Acoustic occupancy sensor

ABSTRACT

An acoustic occupancy sensor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to the following: U.S. utility patentapplication Ser. No. ______, attorney docket number 23667.290, filed on______, U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. ______, attorney docketnumber 23667.293, filed on ______, U.S. utility patent application Ser.No. ______, attorney docket number 23667.305, filed on ______, and U.S.utility patent application Ser. No. ______, attorney docket number23667.306, filed on ______, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates in general to lighting and in particularto electrical control systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-11 are schematic illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of acontrol system including an occupancy sensor.

FIGS. 12 a-12 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof the operation of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 13 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of timeaveraged amplitudes of filtered signals for a plurality of centerfrequencies.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of operating the pre-amplifier of the occupancy sensor of FIGS.1-11.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of operating the variable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensorof FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 16 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of thevariable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of time averaging the amplitudes of signals filtered by thevariable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 18 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of theoutput signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of centerfrequencies.

FIG. 19 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a timeseries the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at aparticular center frequency.

FIG. 20 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of thetime averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpassfilter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the signals filteredby the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 22 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of thetime averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpassfilter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of determining occupancy.

FIG. 24 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of thetime averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpassfilter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 25 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of thetime averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpassfilter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of networking occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 27 a-27 c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of monitoring the system status of one or more occupancy sensors.

FIG. 29 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface forremotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors in a system.

FIGS. 30 a-30 c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of remotely controlling and monitoring a system of occupancysensors.

FIG. 31 a and 31 b are exemplary embodiments of graphical userinterfaces for remotely controlling and monitoring a system of occupancysensors.

FIGS. 32 a-32 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the profile ofoccupancy sensors.

FIG. 33 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface forremotely controlling and monitoring the profile of occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 34 a-34 c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the commissioning ofoccupancy sensors.

FIG. 35 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface forremotely controlling and monitoring the commissioning of occupancysensors.

FIGS. 36 a-36 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 37 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface forremotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 38 a-38 c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the status ofoccupancy sensors.

FIG. 39 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface forremotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 40 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a dutycycle for occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 41 a-41 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of remotely controlling and monitoring a bandpass filter foran occupancy sensor.

FIG. 42 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface forremotely controlling and monitoring a bandpass filter for an occupancyfilter.

FIG. 43 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of abandpass filter engine.

FIGS. 44 a-44 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of searching for quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 44 c is a schematic illustration of a quiet bandwidth zonedatabase.

FIG. 45 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of quietbandwidth zones.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of time averaging signals filtered within quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 47 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of abandpass filter engine.

FIGS. 48 a-48 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of searching for noisy bandwidth zones.

FIG. 48 c is a schematic illustration of a permissible bandwidth zonedatabase.

FIG. 49 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment ofpermissible bandwidth zones.

FIG. 50 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of time averaging signals filtered within quiet bandwidth zones.

FIGS. 51 a-51 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of determining occupancy.

FIGS. 52 a-52 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of determining occupancy.

FIG. 53 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of determining occupancy.

FIG. 54 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of determining occupancy.

FIGS. 55 a -55 b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodimentof a method of networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 56 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of agraphical user interface for networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 57 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amethod of networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 58 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of agraphical user interface for networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 59 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of anoccupancy sensor.

FIG. 60 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of anoccupancy sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-11, an exemplary embodiment of an occupancysensor 100 includes an acoustic transmitter 102, an acoustic receiver104, a demodulator 106, a variable band-pass filter 108, a controller110, a communication interface 112, a building automation system (BAS)interface 114, and a memory 116. In an exemplary embodiment, theacoustic transmitter 102, the acoustic receiver 104, the demodulator106, the variable band-pass filter 108, the communication interface 112,the building automation system (BAS) interface 114, and the memory 116are operably coupled to the controller 110.

In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic transmitter 102 is operablycoupled to the controller 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustictransmitter 102 includes an acoustic speaker 102 a that is operablycoupled to an oscillator 102 b. The acoustic speaker 102 a may, forexample, be an acoustic speaker having an output at the carrierfrequency. In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic speaker 102 aincludes a acoustic speaker, commercially available from Nippon Ceramic.The oscillator 102 b may, for example, be an oscillator having a crystalfor reasonable accuracy. In an exemplary embodiment, the oscillator 102b includes a crystal based oscillator, commercially available fromDaiwa.

In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic receiver 104 is operablycoupled to the demodulator 106 and the controller 110. In an exemplaryembodiment, the acoustic receiver 104 includes an acoustic sensor 104 athat is operably coupled to a pre-amplifier 104 b including a digitalpotentiometer 104 ba, and the pre-amplifier is operably coupled to ananalog-to-digital converter 104 c. In an exemplary embodiment, theacoustic sensor 104 a may, for example, be an acoustic sensor havinggood response characteristics at the selected carrier frequency whichmay, for example, be determined by testing the acoustic sensor in a wellknown manner. In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic sensor 104 aincludes a acoustic sensor, commercially available from Nippon Ceramic.The pre-amplifier 104 b may, for example, be a pre-amplifier tuned tothe selected carrier frequency. In an exemplary embodiment, thepre-amplifier 104 b includes an op-amp based pre-amplifier, commerciallyavailable from Microchip. The digital potentiometer 104 ba may, forexample, be a digital potentiometer having 8 bit resolution. In anexemplary embodiment, the digital potentiometer 104 ba comprises adigital potentiometer, commercially available from Analog Devices.

In an exemplary embodiment, the demodulator 106 is operably coupled tothe acoustic receiver 104, the variable band-pass filter 108, and thecontroller 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the demodulator 106 includesa signal filter 106 a and a carrier filter 106 b. The signal filter 106a may, for example, include a passive low pass network having a cutofffrequency above the signal frequency. In an exemplary embodiment, thesignal filter 106 a includes a resistor and capacitor. The carrierfilter 106 b may, for example, include a mixer operating at the carrierfrequency for beating the reference frequency. In an exemplaryembodiment, the carrier filter 106 b includes a mixer, commerciallyavailable from On Semiconductor.

In an exemplary embodiment, the variable band-pass filter 108 isoperably coupled to the demodulator 106 and the controller 110. In anexemplary embodiment, the variable band-pass filter 108 includes adigital potentiometer 108 a for adjusting a gain of the filter, adigital potentiometer 108 b for tuning a center frequency of the filter,and a digital potentiometer 108 c for adjusting a ratio of the centerfrequency of the filter to the bandwidth of the filter. In an exemplaryembodiment, the ratio of the center frequency of the variable band-passfilter 108 to the bandwidth of the filter ranges from about 6 to 12. Thedigital potentiometer 108 a may, for example, be a conventionalcommercially available integrated circuit (“IC”) having 8 bitresolution. In an exemplary embodiment, the digital potentiometer 108 aincludes a SPI or I2C interface, commercially available from AnalogDevices. The digital potentiometer 108 b may, for example, be aconventional commercially available IC having 8 bit resolution. In anexemplary embodiment, the digital potentiometer 108 b includes a SPI orI2C interface, commercially available from Analog Devices. The digitalpotentiometer 108 c may, for example, be a conventional commerciallyavailable IC having 8 bit resolution. In an exemplary embodiment, thedigital potentiometer 108 b includes a SPI or I2C interface,commercially available from Analog Devices.

In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 110 is operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter 102, the acoustic receiver 104, the demodulator106, the variable band-pass filter 108, the communication interface 112,the BAS interface 114, and the memory 116. The controller 110 may, forexample, include a programmable general purpose microcontroller,application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), parallel processing, ora digital signal processor (“DSP”) controller having sufficient memoryand processing power for the particular application which may bedetermined in a well known manner. In an exemplary embodiment, thecontroller 110 includes a I2C interface, USART and analog to digital(“A/D”) converter, commercially available from Microchip. In anexemplary embodiment, the controller 110 includes a pre-amplifier engine110 a, a bandpass filter engine 110 b, a Doppler shift engine 110 c, anoccupancy sensing engine 110 d, and a communication interface engine 110e.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pre-amplifier engine 110 a is adapted tocontrol and monitor the operation of the pre-amplifier 104 b of theacoustic receiver 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the pre-amplifierengine 110 a includes a time averaging of carrier signal engine 110 aa,a pre-amplifier gain control engine 110 ab, and a maintain signal levelbelow clipped level of amplifier engine 110 ac. In an exemplaryembodiment, the time averaging of carrier signal engine 110 aa isadapted to calculate a time average of the amplitude of the carriersignal of the acoustic signals sensed by the acoustic sensor 104 a. Inan exemplary embodiment, the pre-amplifier gain control engine 110 ab isadapted to control and monitor the operation of the digitalpotentiometer 104 ba of the pre-amplifier 104 b to thereby control thegain of the pre-amplifier. In an exemplary embodiment, the maintainsignal level below clipped level of amplifier engine 110 ab is adaptedto process the time average of the amplitude of the carrier signalgenerated by the time averaging of carrier signal engine 110 aa andcontrol the pre-amplifier gain control engine 110 ab to maintain thelevel of the output signal of the pre-amplifier 104 b below the clippinglevel of the pre-amplifier to prevent distortion of the signal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bandpass filter engine 110 b is adaptedto control and monitor the operation of the variable bandpass filter108. In an exemplary embodiment, the bandpass filter engine 110 bincludes a bandpass filter gain engine 110 ba that is adapted to monitorand control the operation of the digital potentiometer 108 a in order tocontrol the gain of the variable bandpass filter 108. In an exemplaryembodiment, the bandpass filter engine 110 b includes a bandpass filtertuning engine 110 bb that is adapted to monitor and control theoperation of the digital potentiometer 108 b in order to tune the centerfrequency of the variable bandpass filter 108. In an exemplaryembodiment, the bandpass filter engine 110 b includes a ratio of centerfrequency to bandwidth of bandpass filter engine 110 bc that is adaptedto monitor and control the operation of the digital potentiometer 108 cin order to control the ratio of the center frequency to the bandwidthof the variable bandpass filter 108. In an exemplary embodiment, thebandpass filter engine 110 b includes a sweeping range of frequenciesengine 110 bd that is adapted to control and monitor the operation ofthe bandpass filter gain engine 110 ba, the bandpass filter tuningengine 110 bb, and the ratio of center frequency to bandwidth ofbandpass filter engine 110 bc in order to controllably sweep thevariable bandpass filter 108 across a range of frequencies to therebyfilter signals processed by the demodulator 106 to determine theirspectral content across a range of frequencies.

In an exemplary embodiment, the doppler shift engine 110 c is adapted toprocess the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter 108 todetermine variations in their spectral content. In an exemplaryembodiment, the doppler shift engine includes a time averaging ofamplitudes of signals at each frequency engine 110 ca that is adapted tocalculate a time average of the amplitude of the signals at eachfrequency. In an exemplary embodiment, the doppler shift engine 110 cincludes a comparison of the time averaged amplitudes at each frequencyengine 110 cb that is adapted to compare the time averaged amplitudescalculated by the time averaging of amplitudes of signals at eachfrequency engine 110 ca in order to determine variations in the timeaveraged amplitudes from frequency to frequency. In an exemplaryembodiment, the doppler shift engine 110 c includes a differences intime averaged amplitudes at each frequency engine 110 cc that is adaptedto calculate the differences in the time averaged amplitudes fromfrequency to frequency.

In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensing engine 110 d isadapted to process the output of the doppler shift engine 110 c todetermine the presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionthat the occupancy sensor 100 is positioned. In an exemplary embodiment,the occupancy sensing engine 110 d includes a determination of noiseengine 110 da that is adapted to determine if the defined regionincludes a source of acoustic noise such as, for example, a ventilationsystem. In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensing engine 110 dincludes a determination of occupancy engine 110 db that is adapted todetermine if the defined region includes an occupant or not.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication interface 112 is operablycoupled to the controller 110 and is adapted to be operably coupled to anetwork 118 such as, for example, a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN), an Ethernet, and/or the Internet. In an exemplaryembodiment, the communication interface 112 includes an RS-485 halfduplex communication interface and a network engine 112 b for managingthe operation of the communication interface. In an exemplaryembodiment, the network 118 may, for example, be operably coupled toother occupancy sensor 120, and/or remote control devices 122. In anexemplary embodiment, the other occupancy sensors 120 may includeconventional occupancy sensors and/or the occupancy sensor 100. In anexemplary embodiment, the other occupancy sensors 120 may include, forexample, acoustic and/or infrared occupancy sensors. In an exemplaryembodiment, the remote control devices 122 are adapted to remotelycontrol and monitor the operation of the occupancy sensor 100 and/or theother occupancy sensors 120, and/or any other elements of the presentdisclosure.

In an exemplary embodiment, the BAS interface 114 is operably coupled tothe controller 110 and is adapted to be operably coupled to aconventional BAS system 124 that may be operably coupled to one or moreloads 126. In an exemplary embodiment, the BAS interface 114 may includea communication interface 114 a that may include, for example, aconvention communication interface suitable for communicating with aconventional BAS system. In an exemplary embodiment, the communicationinterface 114 a includes an isolated form-C relay, commerciallyavailable from Aromat.

In an exemplary embodiment, a switchpak control 128 may be operablycoupled to the controller 110 of the occupancy sensor 100 in order tocontrol the operation of one or more loads 130 that may be operablycoupled to the switchpak control 128. In an exemplary embodiment, theswitchpack control 128 further includes a communication interface 128 afor communicating with the network 118. Alternatively, one or more ofthe loads 126 and/130 may be operably coupled to the controller 110 ofthe occupancy sensor 100.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the switchpack control 128further provide power to the occupancy sensor 100, and interpret controlsignals for activation/deactivation of the loads 130. In an exemplaryembodiment, the switchpack control 128 is also operably coupled to thenetwork 118 using the communication interface 128 a. As a result, theremote control and monitoring 122 may directly communicate with,monitor, and control the switchpack control 128. In an exemplaryembodiment, the switchpack control 128 includes a conventionalcommercially available switchpack control from Novitas and/or CooperIndustries.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10 a, the switchpackcontrol 128 includes a conventional commercially available switchpackcontrol further modified to include the communication interface 128 a, acontroller 128 b, a circuit current monitoring device 128 c, a memory128 d, and a user interface 128 e. In an exemplary embodiment, thecommunication interface 128 a, the circuit current monitoring device 128c, the memory 128 d, and the user interface 128 e are operably coupledto and controlled by the controller 128 b.

In an exemplary embodiment, the circuit current monitoring device 128 cis adapted to monitor the current within the loads 130 operably coupledto the switchpack control 128. In an exemplary embodiment, the circuitcurrent monitoring device 128 c may include a conventional commerciallyavailable current monitoring device.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10 b, the memory 128d includes: a network address 128 d 1 for the switchpack control 128,information 128 d 2 specific to the switchpack control, a duty cycle 128d 3 for the switchpack control, an operating schedule 128 d 4 for theswitchpack control, and floor plan information 128 d 5 for theswitchpack control and/or the loads 130 operably coupled to theswitchpack control. In an exemplary embodiment, the memory 128 dincludes a non-volatile memory.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user interface 128 e permits a localuser of the switchpack control 128 to interface with and control theoperation of the switchpack control.

In an exemplary embodiment, the switchpack control 128 includes aNovitas model 13-051 switchpack control product.

In an exemplary embodiment, the memory 116 is operably coupled to thecontroller 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the memory 116 includes oneor more of the following: acoustic transmitter operating parameters 116a, acoustic receiver operating parameters 116 b, demodulator operatingparameters 116 c, variable bandpass filter operating parameters 116 d,network parameters 116 e, BAS parameters 116 f, room/occupant operatingparameters 116 g, operating schedule operating parameters 116 h, andload control operating parameters 116 i. The memory 116 may, forexample, include DRAM, FLASH, or a non-volatile memory. In an exemplaryembodiment, the memory 116 includes a non-volatile memory, commerciallyavailable from Microchip.

In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic transmitter operatingparameters 116 a include one or more of the following: the carrierfrequency of the acoustic signals transmitted by the acoustictransmitter 102, and output drive level. In an exemplary embodiment, thecarrier frequency of the acoustic signals transmitted by the acoustictransmitter 102 may, for example, be between about 25 KHz and 40 KHz.

In an exemplary, the acoustic receiver operating parameters 116 binclude one or more of the following: the gain settings for thepre-amplifier 104 b, and the resolution of the A/D converter 104 c. Inan exemplary embodiment, the resolution of the A/D converter 104 c is 10bits.

In an exemplary embodiment, the demodulator operating parameters 116 cinclude one or more of the following: the carrier frequency and therange of signal frequencies.

In an exemplary embodiment, the variable bandpass filter operatingparameters 116 d include one or more of the following: the gain of thevariable bandpass filter 108, the center frequency of the variablebandpass filter, the ratio of the center frequency to the bandwidth ofthe variable bandpass filter, and alternate settings for all of theabove. In an exemplary embodiment, the center frequency of the variablebandpass filter 108 ranges from about 10 Hz to 300 Hz, and the ratio ofthe center frequency to the bandwidth of the variable bandpass filterranges from about 6 to 12.

In an exemplary embodiment, the network parameters 116 e include one ormore of the following: the network address of the occupancy sensor 100,the baud rate, the last message status, and the new message status.

In an exemplary embodiment, the BAS operating parameters 116 f includeone or more of the following: the operating mode of the BAS system 124.

In an exemplary embodiment, the room/occupant operating parameters 116 ginclude one or more of the following: the name of the defined regionthat the occupancy sensor 100 is positioned within, the number ofdefined region, the building/floor number for the defined region, thetelephone number of the occupant of the defined region, the e-mailaddress of the occupant of the defined region, the model number of theoccupancy sensor 100, the version of the occupancy sensor, the optionsincluded in the occupancy sensor, and the last good communication.

In an exemplary embodiment, the operating schedule operating parameters116 h include one or more of the following: the operating schedule, andoperational characteristics for each of the defined operating timeperiods.

In an exemplary embodiment, the load control operating parameters 116 iincludes one or more of the following: the identity of the loadscontrolled directly or indirectly by the occupancy sensor 100, and thetime delay associated with the operation of the occupancy sensor tochange the operating state of the loads controlled directly orindirectly by the occupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 a-12 b, duringthe operation of the occupancy sensor 100, the occupancy sensorimplements a method 1200 in which, in step 1202, the acoustictransmitter 102 transmits acoustic signals 1202 a into a defined region132. The acoustic signals may then be reflected back to the occupancysensor 100 by, for example, reflecting off of an occupant 134 positionedwithin the defined region 132, and the reflected signals 1204 a detectedby the acoustic sensor 104 a of the acoustic receiver 104 in step 1204.

The reflected acoustic signals 1204 a detected by the acoustic sensor104 a of the acoustic receiver 104 are then converted to electricalanalog signals 1206 a by the acoustic sensor 104 a in step 1206. Theelectrical analog signals 1206 a are then amplified and digitized by thepre-amplifier 104 b and A/D converter 104 c, respectively, in step 1208,to generate digitized signals 1208 a.

The digitized signals 1208 a are then demodulated in a conventionalmanner by the demodulator 106 in step 1210, to remove the carriercomponent of the digitized signals, and generate demodulated signals1210 a. The demodulated signals 1210 a are then filtered using thevariable bandpass filter 108 in step 1212 by repetitively sweeping thebandpass filter upwardly and then downwardly along a range offrequencies in order to generate filtered signals 1212 a. In thismanner, the spectral content of the demodulated signals 1210 a may bedetermined along a range of frequencies.

The amplitudes of the filtered signals 1212 a are then time averaged bythe controller 110 in step 1214 to generate time averaged amplitudes1214 a for a range of frequencies, e.g., with center frequencies CFranging from 1 to N. In this manner, the amplitude of the spectralcontent of the filtered signals 1212 a are determined for the range ofthe frequencies swept by the variable bandpass filter 108. In thismanner, the average amount of acoustic energy detected by the acousticreceiver 104 at a range of frequencies may be determined.

The time averaged amplitudes 1214 a are then processed by the controller110 in step 1216 to determine the presence or absence of the occupant134 within the defined region 132 in step 1218. In an exemplaryembodiment, in step 1218, the presence of the occupant 134 within thedefined region 132 is indicated by variations in the time averagedamplitudes 1214 a. For example, if the amplitude of time averagedamplitude 1214 a ₁ is different from time averaged amplitude 1214 a ₂,then this would indicate the presence of the occupant 134 within thedefined region 132.

If the controller 110 determines that the occupant 134 is present withinthe defined region 132 in step 1218, then the controller with directlyor indirectly transitions one or more of the loads in step 1220 to an onoperational state. Alternatively, if the controller 110 determines thatthe occupant 134 is not present within the defined region 132 in step1218, then the controller with directly or indirectly transitions one ormore of the loads in step 1222 to an off operational state.

Referring to FIG. 14, in an exemplary embodiment, during operation ofstep 1208 of the method 1200, the amplitude of the carrier signalportion of the analog signal 1206 a is determined in step 1402 by thetime averaging of carrier signal engine 110 a of the preamplifier engine110 a of the controller 110. The time average of the amplitude of thecarrier signal portion of the analog signal 1206 a is then determined instep 1404 by the time averaging of carrier signal engine 110 a of thepreamplifier engine 110 a of the controller 110. The gain of thepre-amplifier 104 b is then adjusted in step 1406 to maintain theamplitude of the amplified output signal of the pre-amplifier below theclipped level associated with the pre-amplifier by the pre-amplifiergain control engine 110 ab and maintain signal level below clipped levelof amplifier engine 110 ac of the pre-amplifier engine 110 a of thecontroller 110. In this manner, distortion of the amplified outputsignal of the pre-amplifier 104 b is minimized.

Referring to FIGS. 15-16, in an exemplary embodiment, during operationof step 1212 of the method 1200, a bandpass filter 1212 b ₁ having acenter frequency CF_(i), a gain G_(i), and bandwidth BW_(i), and a ratioof the center frequency to the bandwidth Q_(i) is continuously sweptupwardly and then downwardly along a range of frequencies such that thecenter frequency CF_(i) of the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) ranges fromvalues 1 to N. In particular, the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is firstswept upwardly in steps 1502 and 1504 by incrementing the centerfrequency CF_(i) of the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) from CF₁ to CF_(N).

If a predetermined top most center frequency CF_(N) has been reached instep 1506, then the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is then swept downwardlyin steps 1508 and 1510 by decrementing the center frequency CF_(i) ofthe bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) from CF_(N) to CF₁. If a predeterminedlowest most center frequency CF₁ has been reached in step 1512, then thebandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is once again then swept upwardly in steps1502 and 1504.

In an exemplary embodiment, steps 1502 to 1512 are implemented by thebandpass filter gain engine 110 ba, the bandpass filter tuning engine110 bb, the ratio of the center frequency to the bandwidth of thebandpass filter engine 110 bc, and the sweeping range of frequenciesengine 110 bd of the band pass filter engine 110 b of the controller110.

Referring to FIGS. 17-20, in an exemplary embodiment, during operationof step 1214 of the method 1200, the amplitudes of the filtered signals1212 a _(i) output by the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) are time averaged.In particular, in steps 1702 and 1704, the center frequency CF_(i) andamplitude of the signal 1212 a _(i) having the center frequency isdetermined by the controller 110. The time average 1706 a _(i) of theamplitudes of the signals 1212 a _(i) having the center frequency CF_(i)is then determined in step 1706. For example, for a given centerfrequency CF_(i), there may be a plurality of amplitudes for times t₁ tot_(N) for signals 1212 a _(it1) to 1212 a _(itN). Once the time averagehas been calculated in step 1708, then steps 1702-1708 are repeated.

In an exemplary embodiment, steps 1702 to 1708 are implemented by thetime averaging of amplitudes of signals at each center frequency engine110 ca of the doppler shift engine 110 c of the controller 110.

Referring to FIGS. 21-22, in an exemplary embodiment, during operationof step 1216 of the method 1200, the time average 1706 a _(i) of theamplitudes of the signals 1212 a _(i) having the center frequency CF_(i)are compared. In particular, in step 2102, the dataset 2102 a of thetime averages 1706 a of the amplitudes of the signals 1212 a _(i) havingcenter frequency CF_(i) ranging from 1 to N are retrieved by thecontroller 110. The amplitudes of the time averages 1706 a _(i) of thedataset 2102 a are then compared in step 2104. The number of differentamplitude values of the time averages 1706 a _(i) of the dataset 2102 aare then determined in step 2106.

In an exemplary embodiment, steps 2102 to 2106 are implemented by thecomparison of time averaged amplitudes at each frequency engine 110 cband differences in time averaged amplitudes at each frequency engine 110cc of the doppler shift engine 110 c of the controller 110.

Referring to FIGS. 23-25, in an exemplary embodiment, during operationof step 1218 of the method 1200, number of different amplitude values ofthe time averages 1706 a _(i) of the dataset 2102 a are analyzed todetermine whether the defined region 132 includes an occupant 134. Inparticular, in step 2202, the number of different amplitude values ofthe time averages 1706 a _(i) of the dataset 2102 a are analyzed todetermine if only one time averaged amplitude has a different value fromall of the other time averaged amplitudes. If only one time averagedamplitude 1706 a _(i) has a different value from all of the other timeaveraged amplitudes, then it is determined that the defined region 132is not occupied by the occupant 134 in step 2304.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 24, for a first dataset 2102 a ₁,the time averaged amplitudes for center frequencies CF₁ to CF₃ aresubstantially the same, and the time averaged amplitude for centerfrequency CF₄ is different from that for CF₁ to CF₃. Consequently,dataset 2102 a ₁ indicates that the defined region 132 is not occupiedby the occupant 134. In an exemplary embodiment, if it is determinedthat the defined region 132 is not occupied by the occupant 134 in step2304, then it may also be determined that the time averaged amplitudefor center frequency CF₄ is different from that for CF₁ to CF₃ becauseof the presence of a source of acoustic noise within the defined region132 such as, for example, a ventilation system.

Conversely, if it is determined in step 2306 that more than one timeaveraged amplitude 1706 a _(i) has a different value from all of theother time averaged amplitudes, then it is determined that the definedregion 132 is occupied by the occupant 134.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 25, for a first dataset 2102 a ₂,the time averaged amplitudes for center frequencies CF₁ and CF₃ aresubstantially the same, and the time averaged amplitudes for centerfrequencies CF₂ and CF₄ are both different from that for CF₁ and CF₃.Consequently, dataset 2102 a ₂ indicates that the defined region 132 isoccupied by the occupant 134.

In an exemplary embodiment, steps 2302 to 2308 are implemented by thedetermination of noise engine 110 da and determination of occupancyengine 110 db of the occupancy sensing engine 110 d of the controller110.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 26, during operationof one or more of the occupancy sensors 100 and/or one or more of theother occupancy sensors 120 and one or more of the remote control andmonitoring 122, a method 2600 is implemented in which one or more of theoccupancy sensors 100 and/or one or more of the other occupancy sensors120 and one or more of the remote control and monitoring 122 areoperably coupled to the network 118 in step 2602. One or more of theremote control and monitoring 122 may then operate to remotely monitorand control one or more of the occupancy sensors 100 and/or one or moreof the other occupancy sensors 120 in step 2604. In an exemplaryembodiment, in step 2604, the remote control and monitoring 122 may alsoremotely monitor and control one or more of the BAS system 124 and/orswitchpack control 128.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 27 a-27 c, duringoperation of the step 2604, a method 2700 for permitting one or more ofthe remote control and monitoring 122 to remotely control and monitorone or more of the occupancy sensors 100 and/or 120 is implemented inwhich, in step 2702, a user of one or more of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select system monitor. If the user of one or more ofthe remote control and monitoring 122 selects system monitor, then theuser may monitor and control the status of one or more of the occupancysensors 100 and/or 120 in step 2704.

If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select system monitor, then the user may select system table in step2706. If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring122 selects system table, then the user may monitor and control theoperational status of one or more of the occupancy sensors 100 and/or120 in step 2708.

If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select system table, then the user may select sensor profile in step2710. If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring122 selects sensor profile, then the user may monitor and control theprofile of one or more of the occupancy sensors 100 and/or 120 in step2712.

If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select sensor profile, then the user may select sensor commission instep 2714. If the user of one or more of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects sensor commission, then the user may monitor andcontrol the commission of one or more of the occupancy sensors 100and/or 120 in step 2716.

If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select sensor commission, then the user may select sensor control instep 2718. If the user of one or more of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects sensor control, then the user may monitor andcontrol one or more of the occupancy sensors 100 and/or 120 in step2720.

If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select sensor control, then the user may select sensor status instep 2722. If the user of one or more of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects sensor status, then the user may monitor andcontrol one or more of the occupancy sensors 100 and/or 120 in step2724.

If the user of one or more of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select sensor status, then the user may select sensor bandpass instep 2726. If the user of one or more of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects sensor bandpass, then the user may monitor andcontrol the system table of one or more of the occupancy sensors 100and/or 120 in step 2728.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29, duringoperation of step 2704, an occupancy sensor system monitor graphicaluser interface (GUI) 2802 a is displayed on the remote control andmonitoring 122 in step 2802.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor system monitor GUI 2802 aincludes tabular system wide information that includes: a column 2802 a1 for the date of a system event, a column 2802 a 2 for the time of thesystem event, a network address 2802 a 3 of the occupancy sensor 100associated with the system event, and a description 2802 a 4 of thesystem event. In an exemplary embodiment, the system wide informationincludes indications of changes of operational status of the occupancysensors 100.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 31a, and 31 b, during operation of step 2708, an occupancy sensor systemtable GUI 3002 a is displayed on the remote control and monitoring 122in step 3002.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor system table GUI 3002 a includes:a minimum network address 3002 a 1, a maximum network address 3002 a 2,and an occupancy sensor search result table 3002 a 3 for the range ofnetwork addresses defined by the minimum and maximum network addresses.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the minimum and maximum network addresses,3002 a 1 and 3002 a 2, in step 3004. If the user of the remote controland monitoring 122 selects the minimum and maximum network addresses,3002 a 1 and 3002 a 2, then the information corresponding to the rangeof occupancy sensors having the selected range of network addresses isdisplayed on the occupancy sensor search result table 3002 a 3 of thesensor system table GUI 3002 a in step 3006. Alternatively, if the userof the remote control and monitoring 122 does not select minimum andmaximum network addresses, 3002 a 1 and 3002 a 2, then the informationcorresponding to the occupancy sensors having a predefined default rangeof network addresses is displayed on occupancy sensor search resulttable 3002 a 3 of the sensor system table GUI 3002 a in step 3008. In anexemplary embodiment, the information corresponding to the occupancysensors having a range of network addresses that is displayed onoccupancy sensor search result table 3002 a 3 of the sensor system tableGUI 3002 a includes an indication of the operating condition of theoccupancy sensor. For example, if the displayed indicia for a particularoccupancy sensor address is V then that may indicate that thecorresponding occupancy sensor 100 is in a vacant room, i.e., one thatis not occupied. Alternatively, if the displayed indicia is O then theroom is occupied. Alternatively, if the displayed value is N then noinformation is available or the occupancy sensor 100 is not present.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select running a search of the occupancy sensorswithin the range of occupancy sensors in step 3010. If the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 selects running a search of all of theoccupancy sensors within the range of occupancy sensors off, then theuser may initiate the search by pressing the run search button 3012 a instep 3012.

Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select running a search of all of the occupancy sensors within therange of occupancy sensors or if the running of the search of theoccupancy sensors within the range of occupancy sensors off has beeninitiated, then the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 mayselect halting the search operation on the range of occupancy sensors instep 3014. If the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 selectshalting the search operation on the range of occupancy sensors, then theuser may halt the search operation by pressing the halt search button3016 a in step 3016.

Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select halting a search of all of the occupancy sensors within therange of occupancy sensors or if the halting of the search of theoccupancy sensors within the range of occupancy sensors off has beeninitiated, then the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 mayselect resetting the search operation on the range of occupancy sensorsin step 3018. If the user of the remote control and monitoring 122selects resetting the search operation on the range of occupancysensors, then the user may reset the search operation by pressing thereset search button 3020 a in step 3020.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 32 a, 32 b, and 33,during operation of step 2712, an occupancy sensor profile GUI 3202 a isdisplayed on the remote control and monitoring 122 in step 3202.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor profile GUI 3202 a includes: anetwork address 3202 a 1 for the occupancy sensor; room/occupant data3202 a 2 including room name/occupant 3202 a 3, the room number 3202 a4, the building/floor 3202 a 5, contact phone number 3202 a 6, andcontact e-mail 3202 a 7; device data 3202 a 8 including the model number3202 a 9 of the occupancy sensor, the version 3202 a 10 of the occupancysensor, and the options 3202 a 11 associated within the occupancysensor; and the date/time 3202 a 12 of the last communication.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the network address 3202 a 1 for the occupancysensor in step 3204. If the user of the remote control and monitoring122 selects the network address 3202 a 1 for the occupancy sensor, theinformation corresponding to the occupancy sensor having the selectednetwork address is displayed on the sensor profile GUI 3202 a in step3206. Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring122 does not select a network address 3202 a 1 for the occupancy sensor,the information corresponding to the occupancy sensor having apredefined default network address is displayed on the sensor profileGUI 3202 a in step 3208.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select updating the room/occupant data 3202 a 2 forthe occupancy sensor in step 3210. If the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects updating the room/occupant data 3202 a 2 for theoccupancy sensor, then the user of the remote control and monitoring 122may update the room/occupant data 3202 a 2 for the occupancy sensor instep 3212. In an exemplary embodiment, the room/occupant data 3202 a 2includes the room name/occupant 3202 a 3, the room number 3202 a 4, thebuilding/floor 3202 a 5, contact phone number 3202 a 6, and contacte-mail 3202 a 7.

Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot updating the room/occupant data 3202 a 2 for the occupancy sensor orif the updating of the room/occupant data for the occupancy sensor hasbeen completed, the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 mayselect updating the device type data 3202 a 8 for the occupancy sensorin step 3214.

If the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 selects updatingthe device type data 3202 a 8 for the occupancy sensor, then the user ofthe remote control and monitoring 122 may update the device type datafor the occupancy sensor in step 3216. In an exemplary embodiment,device data 3202 a 8 includes the model number 3202 a 9 of the occupancysensor, the version 3202 a 10 of the occupancy sensor, and the options3202 a 11 associated within the occupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 34 a, 34 b, 34 c and35, during operation of step 2716, an occupancy sensor commission GUI3402 a is displayed on the remote control and monitoring 122 in step3402.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor commission GUI 3402 a includes: aminimum network address 3402 a 1, a maximum network address 3402 a 2,and an occupancy sensor status table 3402 a 3 for the range of networkaddresses defined by the minimum and maximum network addresses.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the minimum and maximum network addresses,3402 a 1 and 3402 a 2, in step 3404. If the user of the remote controland monitoring 122 selects the minimum and maximum network addresses,3402 a 1 and 3402 a 2, then the information corresponding to the rangeof occupancy sensors having the selected range of network addresses isdisplayed on occupancy sensor status table 3402 a 3 of the sensorcommission GUI 3402 a in step 3406. Alternatively, if the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 does not select minimum and maximumnetwork addresses, 3402 a 1 and 3402 a 2, then the informationcorresponding to the occupancy sensors having a predefined default rangeof network addresses is displayed on occupancy sensor status table 3402a 3 of the sensor commission GUI 3402 a in step 3408.

In an exemplary embodiment, the information corresponding to theoccupancy sensors having a range of network addresses that is displayedon occupancy sensor status table 3402 a 3 of the sensor commission GUI3402 a includes an indication of the operating condition of theoccupancy sensor. For example, if the displayed indicia for a particularoccupancy sensor address is A then that may indicate that thecorresponding occupancy sensor is active.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select turning all of the occupancy sensors withinthe range of occupancy sensors off in step 3410. If the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 selects turning all of the occupancysensors within the range of occupancy sensors off, then the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 may then turn all of the occupancysensors within the range of occupancy sensors off in step 3412 bydepressing an all off button 3412 a.

Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select turning all of the occupancy sensors within the range ofoccupancy sensors off or if the turning all of the occupancy sensorswithin the range of occupancy sensors off has been completed, then theuser of the remote control and monitoring 122 may select running a setupoperation on the range of occupancy sensors in step 3414.

If the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 selects running asetup operation on the range of occupancy sensors in step 3414, then theuser of the remote control and monitoring 122 may initiate the setupoperation in step 3416 by depressing the set up button 3416 a. In anexemplary embodiment, the set up of the occupancy sensors in step 3416further includes sequentially activating each sensor 100 upon which thenext available address within the selected range is assigned.

Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select running a setup operation on the range of occupancy sensorsor if the setting up the occupancy sensors within the range of occupancysensors off has begun, then the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select halting the setup operation on the range ofoccupancy sensors in step 3418. If the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects halting the setup operation on the range ofoccupancy sensors, then the user may halt the setup operation bypressing the halt setup button 3420 a in step 3420.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 36 a, 36 b, and 37,during operation of step 2720, an occupancy sensor control GUI 3702 a isdisplayed on the remote control and monitoring 122 in step 3702.

In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensor control GUI 3602 aincludes: a minimum network address 3602 a 1, a maximum network address3602 a 2, and an occupancy sensor operating schedule 3602 a 3 for therange of network addresses defined by the minimum and maximum networkaddresses.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the minimum and maximum network addresses,3602 a 1 and 3602 a 2, in step 3604. If the user of the remote controland monitoring 122 selects the minimum and maximum network addresses,3602 a 1 and 3602 a 2, then the operating schedule information 3602 a 3corresponding to the range of occupancy sensors having the selectedrange of network addresses is displayed on the occupancy sensor controlGUI 3602 a in step 3606. Alternatively, if the user of the remotecontrol and monitoring 122 does not select minimum and maximum networkaddresses, 3602 a 1 and 3602 a 2, then the operating scheduleinformation 3602 a 3 corresponding to the range of occupancy sensorshaving the selected range of network addresses is displayed on theoccupancy sensor control GUI 3602 a in step 3608.

In an exemplary embodiment, the operating schedule information 3602 a 3corresponding to the occupancy sensors having a range of networkaddresses that is displayed on the occupancy sensor control GUI 3602 aincludes the operating schedule, the defined operating sub-components,and operational parameters during each of the above.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select editing the operating schedule information3602 a 3 corresponding to the occupancy sensors having a range ofnetwork addresses in step 3610. If the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects select editing the operating schedule information3602 a 3 corresponding to the occupancy sensors having a range ofnetwork addresses, then the user may initiate the editing by pressingthe edit operating schedule button 3612 a in step 3612. In an exemplaryembodiment, the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 maycomplete the editing by pressing the OK button 3612 b in step 3612.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 38 a, 38 b, 38 c,and 39, during operation of step 2724, an occupancy sensor statusgraphical user interface (GUI) 3802 a is displayed on the remote controland monitoring 122 in step 3802.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor status GUI 3802 a includes anetwork address 3802 a 1 for the occupancy sensor, an occupancythreshold value 3802 a 2 for the occupancy sensor, a slide control 3802a 3 for adjusting the occupancy threshold value, a time delay 3802 a 4for the occupancy sensor for defining a time delay before turning a loadoperably coupled to the occupancy sensor on or off in response to thepresence or absence of an occupant, a slide control 3802 a 5 foradjusting the time delay, the time remaining 3802 a 6 in the time delayduring a transition of the load from one operating state to anotheroperating state, a grace period 3802 a 7 associated with the time delayfor the occupancy sensor, the number of on faults 3802 a 8 for theoccupancy sensor, the number of off faults 3802 a 9 for the occupancysensor, the refresh interval 3802 a 10 for updating the sensor statusGUI, the time remaining 3802 a 11 until the information in the sensorstatus GUI will be refreshed, selection of manual remote control 3802 a12 of the occupancy sensor, a display of the status of the DIP switches3802 a 13 for the occupancy sensor, selection of user mode 3802 a 14,selection of user mode armed 3802 a 15, selection of skip faults 3802 a16, selection of false off armed 3802 a 17, selection of false on hit3802 a 18, selection of false on armed 3802 a 19, selection of timedelay (TD) last increased 3802 a 20, and selection of TD last decreased3802 a 21.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the network address 3802 a 1 for the occupancysensor in step 3804. If the user of the remote control and monitoring122 selects the network address 3802 a 1 for the occupancy sensor, theinformation corresponding to the occupancy sensor having the selectednetwork address is displayed on the sensor status GUI 3802 a in step3806. Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring122 does not select a network address 3802 a 1 for the occupancy sensor,the information corresponding to the occupancy sensor having apredefined default network address is displayed on the sensor status GUI3802 a in step 3808.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the refresh interval 3802 a 10 for the sensorstatus GUI 3802 a in step 3810. If the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 selects the refresh interval 3802 a 10 for the sensorstatus GUI 3802 a, then the sensor status GUI 3802 a is refreshed inaccordance with the selected refresh interval in step 3812.Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select a refresh interval 3802 a 10 for the sensor status GUI 3802a, then the sensor status GUI 3802 a is refreshed in accordance with apredetermined default refresh interval in step 3814.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may immediately refresh the sensor status GUI 3802 a instep 3816 by depressing a refresh button 3816 a. If the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 selects immediate refresh for thesensor status GUI 3802 a, then the sensor status GUI 3802 a isimmediately refreshed in step 3818.

Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select immediate refresh for the sensor status GUI 3802 a or ifimmediate refresh has been completed, then the user of the remotecontrol and monitoring 122 may then select manual adjustment of one ofmore settings of the occupancy sensor in step 3820. If the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 selects manual adjustment of one ofmore settings of the occupancy sensor, then the user may then manuallyadjust one or more of the settings of the occupancy sensor in step 3822by interacting with the sensor status GUI 3802 a in step 3822.

In an exemplary embodiment, in step 3822, the user of the remote controland monitoring 122 may manually adjust one or more of the followingsettings of the occupancy sensor by interacting with the sensor statusGUI 3802 a: the occupancy threshold value 3802 a 2, the time delay 3802a 4, the number of permissible on faults 3802 a 8, the number ofpermissible off faults 3802 a 9, the refresh interval 3802 a 10 forupdating the sensor status GUI, the DIP switches 3802 a 13, the usermode 3802 a 14, the user mode armed 3802 a 15, the skip faults 3802 a16, the false off armed 3802 a 17, the false on hit 3802 a 18, the falseon armed 3802 a 19, the TD last increased 3802 a 20, and the TD lastdecreased 3802 a 21. In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy thresholdvalue 3802 a 2 refers to the level of response above baseline requiredto cause a trigger, the time delay 3802 a 4 refers to the amount to timeafter sensing motion until one or more of the loads, 126 and 130, aredeactivated, the number of on faults 3802 a 8 refers to number of falseactivations recorded by the sensor 100, the number of off faults 3802 a9 refers to the number of false deactivations of the sensor, the refreshinterval 3802 a 10 refers to interval of time between queries, the DIPswitches 3802 a 13 refer to actual setting of DIP switch on the sensor,the user mode 3802 a 14 refers to whether or not the sensor is operatingin a user or an installer mode, the user mode armed 3802 a 15 refers towhether or not the sensor installation timer is in an active mode ofoperation, the skip faults 3802 a 16 refers to not counting faults whilean installation timer is active, the false off armed 3802 a 17 refers tosetting where false deactivations are monitored, the false on hit 3802 a18 refers to whether or not a false activation was sensed by the sensor,the false on armed 3802 a 19 refers to whether or not monitoring forfalse activations is active, the TD last increased 3802 a 20 refers toactions taken to resolve a last false activation/deactivation, and theTD last decreased 3802 a 21 refers to actions taken to resolve a lastfalse activation/deactivation.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user may manually adjust one or more ofthe settings of the occupancy sensor in step 3822 by interacting withthe sensor status GUI 3802 a in step 3822 by selecting manual adjust3802 a 12 and then, after making all desired adjustments, depressing achange settings button 3822 a.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 40, in step 2822, theuser of the remote control and monitoring 122 may also select a dutycycle 2822 b for the occupancy sensor that includes a first time period2822 b 1 during which the operation of the occupancy sensor is manuallyremotely controller by the user of the remote control and monitoring anda second time period during which the operation of the occupancy sensoris locally controlled by the occupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 41 a, 41 b, and 42,during operation of step 2728, an occupancy sensor bandpass filter GUI4102 a is displayed on the remote control and monitoring 122 in step4102.

In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensor bandpass filter GUI4102 a includes: a network address 4102 a 1 for the occupancy sensor100, a graphical display 4102 a 2 of the gain 4102 a 3, the timeaveraged baseline 4102 a 4, and the newest reading 4102 a 5 for thebandpass filter 108 of the occupancy sensor, tabular data 4102 a 6 thatdescribes the gain 4102 a 7, the time averaged baseline 4102 a 8, andthe newest reading 4102 a 9 for the bandpass filter at a plurality ofspaced apart frequencies, and a time period 4102 a 10 remaining until arefreshment of the occupancy sensor bandpass filter GUI.

In an exemplary embodiment, the gain 4102 a 7 is directly proportionalwhile the time averaged baseline 4102 a 8 and the last readings areinversely proportional.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the network address 4102 a 1 for the occupancysensor in step 4104. If the user of the remote control and monitoring122 selects the network address 4102 a 1 for the occupancy sensor, theinformation corresponding to the occupancy sensor having the selectednetwork address is displayed on the sensor status GUI 4102 a in step4106. Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring122 does not select a network address 4102 a 1 for the occupancy sensor,the information corresponding to the occupancy sensor having apredefined default network address is displayed on the sensor status GUI4102 a in step 4108.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the refresh interval 4110 a for the occupancysensor bandpass filter GUI 4102 a in step 4110. If the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 selects the refresh interval 4110 afor the occupancy sensor bandpass filter GUI 4102 a, the occupancysensor bandpass filter GUI 4102 a is refreshed accordingly in step 4112.Alternatively, if the user of the remote control and monitoring 122 doesnot select the refresh interval 4110 a for the occupancy sensor bandpassfilter GUI 4102 a, the occupancy sensor bandpass filter GUI 4102 a isrefreshed using a default refresh value in step 4114.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select manual adjustment of the bandpass filter 108for the selected occupancy sensor 100 by interacting with the occupancysensor bandpass filter GUI 4102 a in step 4116. If the user of theremote control and monitoring 122 selects manual adjustment of thebandpass filter 108 for the selected occupancy sensor 100, then the usermay then manually adjust the bandpass filter 108 for the selectedoccupancy sensor 100 by interacting with the occupancy sensor bandpassfilter GUI 4102 a in step 4118.

In an exemplary embodiment, a user of the occupancy sensor bandpassfilter GUI 4102 a may also select a streaming data option 4102 a 11,which allows much faster response between the corresponding occupancysensor 100 and the remote control and monitoring 122. In an exemplaryembodiment, using the streaming data option, as soon as the remotecontrol and monitoring 122 receives a data set, it requests anotherthereby obtaining updates as fast as possible. Streaming data mode tiesup the bandwidth of the network 118, so other communications are blockeduntil this mode of operation is ended.

Referring to FIG. 43, in an exemplary embodiment, the controller 110 ofthe occupancy sensor 100 includes a bandpass filter engine 4300 thatincludes the bandpass filter tuning engine 110 ba, the bandpass filtergain engine 110 bb, the ratio of the center frequency to the bandwidthof the bandpass filter engine 110 bc, and a search range of frequenciesfor quiet bandwidth areas engine 4302. In an exemplary embodiment, thesearch range of frequencies for quiet bandwidth areas engine 4302 isadapted to search the defined region 132 for bandwidth areas that areacoustically quiet.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 44 a-44 c and 45,the occupancy sensor 100 implements a method 4400 of searching for quietbandwidth zones in which the variable bandpass filter 108 is sweptupwardly and then downwardly along a range of frequencies to locatequiet bandwidth zones that may then be used to gather signalsrepresentative of the presence or absence of the occupant 134 within thedefined region 132. In particular, in steps 4402 and 4404, the variablebandpass filter 108 is swept upwardly along a range of frequencies suchthat the center frequency CF_(i) of the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i)ranges from values 1 to N. If an amplitude of a signal filtered by thebandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is less than a predetermined threshold valuein step 4406, then the corresponding center frequency CF_(i) is added toa bandpass filter quiet bandwidth zone (“BFQBZ”) database in step 4408.

If a predetermined top most center frequency CF_(N) has been reached instep 4410, then the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is then swept downwardlyin steps 4412 and 4414 by decrementing the center frequency CF_(i) ofthe bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) from CF_(N) to CF₁. If an amplitude of asignal filtered by the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is less than apredetermined threshold value in step 4416, then the correspondingcenter frequency CF_(i) is added to a bandpass filter quiet bandwidthzone (“BFQBZ”) database 4418 a in step 4418.

If a predetermined lowest most center frequency CF₁ has been reached instep 4420, then the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is once again then sweptupwardly in steps 4402 and 4404.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 45, the BFQBZdatabase 4418 a is then used to operate the occupancy sensor 100 tofilter signals within one or more quiet bandwidth zones 4422 defined bythe BFQBZ database in steps 1212 and 1214 of the method 1200. In thismanner, sources of background zone that could cause false positive ornegative indications of the presence of the occupant 132 within thedefined region 134 are minimized.

In particular, in an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 46, instep 1214 of the method 1200, the occupancy sensor 100 implements amethod 4600 of time averaging the amplitudes of the signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter 108 that utilizes the BFQBZ database 4418 ato define the center frequencies of the signals that are time averaged.In particular, in step 4602, the 1^(st) center frequency is obtainedfrom the BFQBZ database 4418 a. The amplitude of the filtered signalhaving the center frequency is then determined in step 4604, and thetime average of the amplitude of the filtered signal having the centerfrequency is then time averaged in step 4606.

If there are more center frequencies within the BFQBZ database 4418 a instep 4608, then the next center frequency is obtained from the BFQBZdatabase in step 4610 and the steps 4604,4606, 4608, and 4610 arerepeated for each center frequency within the BFQBZ database.

In an alternative embodiment, the BFQBZ database 4418 a is used tooperate the occupancy sensor 100 to monitor and filter signals withinone or more quiet bandwidth zones 4422 defined by the BFQBZ database andthen determine the presence or absence of the occupant 134 within thedefined region 132 using conventional methods of determining occupancyfor occupancy sensors.

Referring to FIG. 47, in an exemplary embodiment, the controller 110includes a bandpass filter engine 4700 that includes the bandpass filtertuning engine 110 ba, the bandpass filter gain engine 110 bb, the ratioof the center frequency to the bandwidth of the bandpass filter engine110 bc, and a search range of frequencies for noisy bandwidth areasengine 4702. In an exemplary embodiment, the search range of frequenciesfor noisy bandwidth areas engine 4702 is adapted to search the definedregion 132 for bandwidth areas that are acoustically noisy.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 48 a-48 c and 49,the occupancy sensor 100 implements a method 4800 of searching for noisybandwidth zones in which the variable bandpass filter 108 is sweptupwardly and then downwardly along a range of frequencies to locatenoisy bandwidth zones that may not then be used to gather signalsrepresentative of the presence or absence of the occupant 134 within thedefined region 132. In particular, in steps 4802 and 4804, the variablebandpass filter 108 is swept upwardly along a range of frequencies suchthat the center frequency CF_(i) of the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i)ranges from values 1 to N. If an amplitude of a signal filtered by thebandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is greater than a predetermined thresholdvalue in step 4806, then the corresponding center frequency CF_(i) isdeleted from a bandpass filter permissible bandwidth zone (“BFPBZ”)database 4408 a in step 4808.

If a predetermined top most center frequency CFN has been reached instep 4810, then the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is then swept downwardlyin steps 4812 and 4814 by decrementing the center frequency CF_(i) ofthe bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) from CF_(N) to CF₁. If an amplitude of asignal filtered by the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is less than apredetermined threshold value in step 4816, then the correspondingcenter frequency CF_(i) is deleted from the BFPBZ database 4808 a instep 4818.

If a predetermined lowest most center frequency CF₁ has been reached instep 4820, then the bandpass filter 1212 b _(i) is once again then sweptupwardly in steps 4802 and 4804.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 49, the BFPBZdatabase 4808 a is then used to operate the occupancy sensor 100 tofilter signals within one or more permissible bandwidth zones 4822defined by the BFPBZ database in steps 1212 and 1214 of the method 1200.In this manner, sources of background zone that could cause falsepositive or negative indications of the presence of the occupant 132within the defined region 134 are minimized.

In particular, in an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 50, instep 1214 of the method 1200, the occupancy sensor 100 implements amethod 5000 of time averaging the amplitudes of the signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter 108 that utilizes the BFPBZ database 4808 ato define the center frequencies of the signals that are time averaged.In particular, in step 5002, the 1^(st) center frequency is obtainedfrom the BFPBZ database 4808 a. The amplitude of the filtered signalhaving the center frequency is then determined in step 5004, and thetime average of the amplitude of the filtered signal having the centerfrequency is then time averaged in step 5006.

If there are more center frequencies within the BFPBZ database 4808 a instep 5008, then the next center frequency is obtained from the BFPBZdatabase in step 5010 and the steps 5004, 5006, 5008, and 5010 arerepeated for each center frequency within the BFPBZ database.

In an alternative embodiment, the BFPBZ database 4808 a is used tooperate the occupancy sensor 100 to monitor and filter signals withinone or more permissible bandwidth zones 4822 defined by the BFPBZdatabase and then determine the presence or absence of the occupant 134within the defined region 132 using conventional methods of determiningoccupancy for occupancy sensors.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 51 a-51 b, duringoperation of the occupancy sensor 100, the occupancy sensor implements amethod of determining occupancy 5100 in which, in step 5102, an INDEX isinitialized and set to be equal to zero. In step 5104, it is determinedif only one time averaged amplitude, as provided in step 1214 of themethod 1200, the method 4600, and/or the method 5000, is different fromall of the remaining time averaged amplitudes. If only one time averagedamplitude is different from all of the remaining time averagedamplitudes, then it is determined that the defined region 132 is notoccupied by the occupant 134 in step 5106.

Alternatively, if more than one time averaged amplitudes are differentfrom the remaining time averaged amplitudes, then it is determined thatthe defined region 132 may be occupied by the occupant 134 in steps 5108and 5110. The index INDEX is then incremented by one in step 5112.

If the INDEX is greater than a predetermined value in step 5114, then itis determined that the defined region 132 is occupied by the occupant134 in step 5116.

Thus, the method 5100 permits the determination of occupancy of thedefined region 132 if the number of different values of the amplitudesof the time averaged filtered signals exceed a predetermined value.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5100 is implemented in additionto, or instead of the steps 1216 and/or 1218 in the method 1200.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5100 may be implemented in aconventional occupancy sensor in order to provide quality control in thedetermination of occupancy in a conventional occupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 52 a-52 b, duringoperation of the occupancy sensor 100, the occupancy sensor implements amethod of determining occupancy 5200 in which, in step 5202, a COUNTINDEX is initialized and set to be equal to one, a ROOM IS NOT OCCUPIEDINDEX is initialized and set equal to zero, and a ROOM IS OCCUPIED INDEXis initialized and set equal to zero. In step 5204, it is determined ifonly one time averaged amplitude, as provided in step 1214 of the method1200, the method 4600, and/or the method 5000, is different from all ofthe remaining time averaged amplitudes. If only one time averagedamplitude is different from all of the remaining time averagedamplitudes, then it is determined that the defined region 132 is notoccupied by the occupant 134, the ROOM IS NOT OCCUPIED INDEX isincremented by one, and the COUNT INDEX is incremented by one in step5206.

Alternatively, if more than one time averaged amplitudes are differentfrom the remaining time averaged amplitudes, then the ROOM IS OCCUPIEDINDEX is incremented by one and the COUNT INDEX is incremented by one insteps 5208 and 4810.

If the ROOM IS OCCUPIED INDEX is greater than or equal to the ROOM ISNOT OCCUPIED INDEX plus a predetermined value in step 5212, then it isdetermined that the defined region 132 is occupied by the occupant 134in step 5214. Alternatively, If the ROOM IS OCCUPIED INDEX is notgreater than or equal to the ROOM IS NOT OCCUPIED INDEX plus apredetermined value in step 5212, then it is determined that the definedregion 132 is not occupied by the occupant 134 in step 5216.

Thus, the method 5200 permits the determination of occupancy of thedefined region 132 if the statistical frequency of the number ofindications of occupancy exceeds the statistical frequency of the numberof indications of non-occupancy plus some constant.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5200 is implemented in additionto, or instead of the steps 1216 and/or 1218 in the method 1200.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5200 may be implemented in aconventional occupancy sensor in order to provide quality control in thedetermination of occupancy in a conventional occupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 53, during operationof the occupancy sensor 100, the occupancy sensor implements a method ofdetermining occupancy 5300 in which, in step 5302, it is determined ifonly one time averaged amplitude, as provided in step 1214 of the method1200, the method 4600, and/or the method 5000, is different from all ofthe remaining time averaged amplitudes within a predetermined range offrequencies. If only one time averaged amplitude is different from allof the remaining time averaged amplitudes, then it is determined thatthe defined region 132 is not occupied by the occupant 134 in step 5304.

Alternatively, if more than one time averaged amplitudes are differentfrom the remaining time averaged amplitudes within the predeterminedrange of frequencies, then it is determined that the defined region 132is occupied by the occupant 134 in steps 5306 and 5308.

Thus, the method 5300 permits the determination of occupancy of thedefined region 132 if the indications of occupancy occur within apredetermined range of frequencies.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5300 is implemented in additionto, or instead of the steps 1216 and/or 1218 in the method 1200.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5300 may be implemented in aconventional occupancy sensor in order to enhance the determination ofoccupancy in a conventional occupancy sensor. [0232] In an exemplaryembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 54, during operation of the occupancysensor 100, the occupancy sensor implements a method of determiningoccupancy 5400 in which, in step 5402, it is determined if only one timeaveraged amplitude, as provided in step 1214 of the method 1200, themethod 4600, and/or the method 5000, is different from all of theremaining time averaged amplitudes within a time window. If only onetime averaged amplitude is different from all of the remaining timeaveraged amplitudes, then it is determined that the defined region 132is not occupied by the occupant 134 in step 5404. In an exemplaryembodiment, the time window may correspond to a duty cycle associatedwith the occupancy sensor 100. In this manner, the occupancy sensor maybe inactive during hours of known inactivity for the defined region 132in order to conserve energy.

Alternatively, if more than one time averaged amplitudes are differentfrom the remaining time averaged amplitudes within the predeterminedtime window, then it is determined that the defined region 132 isoccupied by the occupant 134 in steps 5406 and 5408.

Thus, the method 5400 permits the determination of occupancy of thedefined region 132 if the indications of occupancy occur within apredetermined time window.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5400 is implemented in additionto, or instead of the steps 1216 and/or 1218 in the method 1200.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method 5400 may be implemented in aconventional occupancy sensor in order to enhance the determination ofoccupancy in a conventional occupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the methods 1200, 5100, 5200,5300, and/or 5400 are implemented simultaneously by the occupancy sensor100 in order to provide quality control during the operation of theoccupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the methods 5100, 5200, 5300,and/or 5400 are implemented simultaneously in a conventional occupancysensor in order to provide quality control during the operation of theoccupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more aspects of one or more of themethods 1200, 4400, 4600, 4800, 5000, 5100, 5200, 5300, and/or 5400 maybe implemented in a conventional occupancy sensor in order to enhancethe operation of the occupancy sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 55 a, 55 b, and 56,during operation of step 2718, an occupancy sensor control GUI 5502 a isdisplayed on the remote control and monitoring 122 in step 5502 of amethod 5500.

In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensor control GUI 5502 aincludes: a minimum network address 5502 a 1, a maximum network address5502 a 2, and an occupancy sensor floor plan 5502 a 3 for the range ofnetwork addresses defined by the minimum and maximum network addresses.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select the minimum and maximum network addresses,5502 a 1 and 5502 a 2, in step 5504. If the user of the remote controland monitoring 122 selects the minimum and maximum network addresses,5502 a 1 and 5502 a 2, then the floor plan information 5502 a 3corresponding to the range of occupancy sensors having the selectedrange of network addresses is displayed on the occupancy sensor controlGUI 5502 a in step 5506. Alternatively, if the user of the remotecontrol and monitoring 122 does not select minimum and maximum networkaddresses, 5502 a 1 and 5502 a 2, then the floor plan information 5502 a3 corresponding to the range of occupancy sensors having the selectedrange of network addresses is displayed on the occupancy sensor controlGUI 5102 a in step 5508.

In an exemplary embodiment, the operating schedule information 5502 a 3corresponding to the occupancy sensors having a range of networkaddresses that is displayed on the occupancy sensor control GUI 5502 aincludes the operating schedule and corresponding operationalparameters.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user of the remote control andmonitoring 122 may select editing the floor plan information 5502 a 3corresponding to the occupancy sensors having a range of networkaddresses in step 5510. If the user of the remote control and monitoring122 selects select editing the floor plan information 5502 a 3corresponding to the occupancy sensors having a range of networkaddresses, then the user may initiate the editing by pressing the editfloor plan button 5512 a in step 5512. In an exemplary embodiment, theuser of the remote control and monitoring 122 may complete the editingby pressing the OK button 5512 b in step 5512.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 57 and 58, duringoperation of step 2718, an occupancy sensor control GUI 5702 a isdisplayed on the remote control and monitoring 122 in step 5702 of amethod 5700.

In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensor control GUI 5702 aincludes tabular information regarding the operational status of theoccupancy sensors that includes: a date 5702 a 1 associated with anoperational status of an occupancy sensor 100, a time 5702 a 2associated with an operational status of an occupancy sensor, a networkaddress 5702 a 3 associated with an operational status of an occupancysensor, and a description 5702 a 4 of an operational status of anoccupancy sensor.

Referring now to FIG. 59, in an exemplary embodiment, one or more of theoccupancy sensors 100 may further include a conventional passiveinfrared (“PIR”) sensor 5902 operably coupled to the controller 110. Aswill be recognized by persons having ordinary skill in the art,generally speaking, PIR sensors sense occupancy by detecting changes inthe heat signature of a defined region such as, for example, a room.When a person moves within the room, a PIR sensor detects the bodytemperature of the person moving which results in a change in the heatsignature of the room. In an exemplary embodiment, the PIR sensor 5902may also incorporate one or more of the teachings of U.S. Pat. No.5,394,035, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In an exemplary embodiment, the signals generated by the PIR sensor 5902may be processed using one or more of the teachings of the presentdisclosure such as the methods 1200, 1208, 1212, 1214, 1216, 1218, 4400,4600, 4800, 5000, 5100, 5200, 5300, and 5400. In particular, applicationof the teachings of the methods 1200, 1208, 1212, 1214, 1216, 1218,4400, 4600, 4800, 5000, 5100, 5200, 5300, and 5400 will enhance thedetermination of occupancy in a conventional PIR sensor by providingenhanced tolerance of occupancy determination in a thermally noisyenvironment and/or enhanced statistical quality control of thedetermination of occupancy.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more aspects of the methods 2600,2604, 2704, 2708, 2712, 2716, 2720, 2724, 2728, 5500, and/or 5700 may beapplied to the remote control and monitoring of conventional occupancysensors that may, for example, include acoustic and/or passive infraredand/or other conventional or equivalent forms of occupancy sensors.

In an exemplary embodiment, the teachings of the present disclosure maybe used to remotely control and monitor one or more of the otheroccupancy sensors 120 and/or BAS systems 124 and/or switchpack controls128.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 60, the occupancysensor 100 includes a digital filter engine 6002 for digitally filteringthe signals 1210 a output by the demodulator 106. In an exemplaryembodiment, the digital filter engine 6002 is adapted to otherwiseoperate substantially in the same manner as the variable bandpass filter108. In an exemplary embodiment, the digital filter engine 6002 may beused instead of, or in addition to, the variable bandpass filter 108. Inan exemplary embodiment, the resolution of the A/D converter 104 c ofthe acoustic receiver 104 may be increased to match the operationalcharacteristics of the digital filter engine 6002. In an exemplaryembodiment, the digital filter engine 6002 may be implemented, forexample, using a conventional programmable digital signal processor.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more aspects of the present exemplaryembodiments may be implemented, for example, using a programmablegeneral purpose microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signalprocessor, application specific integrated circuit, analog circuit,and/or digital circuit using software, firmware and/or other equivalenthardware and/or software.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver, a variable bandpass filter operablycoupled to the acoustic receiver, and a controller operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, and the variablebandpass filter. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller is adaptedto: transmit acoustic signals using the acoustic transmitter, receiveacoustic signals using the acoustic receiver, filter the acousticsignals using the variable bandpass filter, and process the filteredacoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the acousticreceiver includes an acoustic sensor, a pre-amplifier operably coupledto the acoustic sensor comprising a digital potentiometer, and an analogto digital converter operably coupled to the pre-amplifier. In anexemplary embodiment, the digital potentiometer is adapted to controlthe gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping of signals received bythe acoustic receiver. In an exemplary embodiment, the variable bandpassfilter includes one or more digital potentiometers adapted to control ormore of the following: a gain of the bandpass filter, a tuning of thebandpass filter, and a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpassfilter to a bandwidth of the bandpass filter. In an exemplaryembodiment, the variable bandpass filter includes a digitalpotentiometer adapted to control a gain of the bandpass filter, adigital potentiometer adapted to control a tuning of the bandpassfilter, and a digital potentiometer adapted to control a ratio of acenter frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of the bandpassfilter. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller includes apre-amplifier engine adapted to control the acoustic receiver, abandpass filter engine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter,a doppler shift engine adapted to characterize the signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter, and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the Doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region. In an exemplaryembodiment, the pre-amplifier engine includes a time averaging enginefor time averaging a signal received by the acoustic receiver, amaintain signal level below a clipped level engine for maintaining thesignal received by the acoustic receiver below a clipping level for thepre-amplifier, and a pre-amplifier gain engine for controlling a gain ofthe pre-amplifier. In an exemplary embodiment, the bandpass filterengine includes a bandpass filter tuning engine for controlling thebandpass region of the variable bandpass filter, a bandpass filter gainengine for controlling a gain of the variable bandpass filter, a ratioof a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filterengine for controlling the ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth ofthe variable bandpass filter, and a sweeping engine for controlling asweeping of the variable bandpass filter across a range of frequencies.In an exemplary embodiment, the doppler shift engine includes a timeaveraging engine for time averaging an amplitude of signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter, a comparison engine for comparing the timeaveraged amplitude of signals, and a difference engine for determining adifference in the amplitudes of the time averaged signals. In anexemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensing engine includes adetermination of noise engine for processing the signals filtered by thevariable bandpass filter to determine if they indicate a source ofnoise, and a determination of occupancy engine for processing thesignals filtered by the variable bandpass filter to determine thepresence or absence of an occupant within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, the bandpass filter engine includes a quietbandwidth search engine for searching a range of frequencies for quietbandwidth areas that do not include background noise. In an exemplaryembodiment, the doppler shift engine includes a time averaging enginefor time averaging an amplitude of signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter within the quiet bandwidth areas, a comparison enginefor comparing the time averaged amplitude of signals, and a differenceengine for determining a difference in the amplitudes of the timeaveraged signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the bandpass filter engineincludes a noisy bandwidth search engine for searching a range offrequencies for noisy bandwidth areas that include background noise. Inan exemplary embodiment, the doppler shift engine includes a timeaveraging engine for time averaging an amplitude of signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter that are not within the noisy bandwidthareas, a comparison engine for comparing the time averaged amplitude ofsignals, and a difference engine for determining a difference in theamplitudes of the time averaged signals. In an exemplary embodiment, theoccupancy sensing engine includes a determination of possible noiseengine for processing the signals filtered by the variable bandpassfilter to determine if they indicate a possible source of noise, adetermination of possible occupancy engine for processing the signalsfiltered by the variable bandpass filter to determine if they indicatethe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region, astatistical processing engine for processing the indications of possiblenoise and occupants to determine if the defined region is occupied by anoccupant. In an exemplary embodiment, the statistical processing enginedetermines that the defined region is occupied by an occupant based uponthe frequency of the indications of occupants within the defined region.In an exemplary embodiment, the statistical processing engine determinesthat the defined region is occupied by an occupant based upon thefrequency of the indications of occupants within the defined regionrelative to the frequency of the indications of a source of noise withinthe defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensingengine includes a determination of noise engine for processing a subsetof the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter to determine ifthey indicate a source of noise, and a determination of occupancy enginefor processing the subset of the signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancysensing engine includes a determination of noise engine for processingthe signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within apredetermined time period to determine if they indicate a source ofnoise, and a determination of occupancy engine for processing thesignals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within a predeterminedtime period to determine the presence or absence of an occupant withinthe defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensorfurther includes a passive infrared sensor operably coupled to thecontroller, and wherein the controller is adapted to: process signalsgenerated by the passive infrared sensor to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within the defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver including: an acoustic sensor, apre-amplifier operably coupled to the acoustic sensor comprising adigital potentiometer, wherein the digital potentiometer is adapted tocontrol the gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping of signalsreceived by the acoustic receiver, and an analog to digital converteroperably coupled to the pre-amplifier, a demodulator operably coupled tothe acoustic receiver, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled tothe demodulator including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control again of the bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to controla tuning of the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted tocontrol a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to abandwidth of the bandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, the demodulator, andthe variable bandpass filter including: a pre-amplifier engine adaptedto control the acoustic receiver, a bandpass filter engine adapted tocontrol the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shift engine adapted tocharacterize the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter, andan occupancy sensing engine adapted to characterizations of the Dopplershift engine to determine the presence of absence of the occupant withinthe defined region, wherein the controller is adapted to: transmitacoustic signals using the acoustic transmitter, receive acousticsignals using the acoustic receiver, process the received acousticsignals using the demodulator, filter the processed acoustic signalsusing the variable bandpass filter, and process the filtered acousticsignals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver including: an acoustic sensor, apre-amplifier operably coupled to the acoustic sensor comprising adigital potentiometer, wherein the digital potentiometer is adapted tocontrol the gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping of signalsreceived by the acoustic receiver, and an analog to digital converteroperably coupled to the pre-amplifier, a demodulator operably coupled tothe acoustic receiver, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled tothe demodulator including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control again of the bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to controla tuning of the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted tocontrol a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to abandwidth of the bandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, the demodulator, andthe variable bandpass filter including: a pre-amplifier engine adaptedto control the acoustic receiver, a bandpass filter engine adapted tocontrol the variable bandpass filter including: a quiet bandwidth searchengine for searching a range of frequencies for quiet bandwidth areasthat do not include background noise, a doppler shift engine adapted tocharacterize the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter withinthe quiet bandwidth areas, and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the Doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region, wherein thecontroller is adapted to: transmit acoustic signals using the acoustictransmitter, receive acoustic signals using the acoustic receiver,process the received acoustic signals using the demodulator, filter theprocessed acoustic signals using the variable bandpass filter, andprocess the filtered acoustic signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver including: an acoustic sensor, apre-amplifier operably coupled to the acoustic sensor comprising adigital potentiometer, wherein the digital potentiometer is adapted tocontrol the gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping of signalsreceived by the acoustic receiver, and an analog to digital converteroperably coupled to the pre-amplifier, a demodulator operably coupled tothe acoustic receiver, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled tothe demodulator including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control again of the bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to controla tuning of the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted tocontrol a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to abandwidth of the bandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, the demodulator, andthe variable bandpass filter including: a pre-amplifier engine adaptedto control the acoustic receiver, a bandpass filter engine adapted tocontrol the variable bandpass filter including: a noisy bandwidth searchengine for searching a range of frequencies for noisy bandwidth areasthat include background noise, a doppler shift engine adapted tocharacterize the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter thatare not within the noisy bandwidth areas, and an occupancy sensingengine adapted to characterizations of the Doppler shift engine todetermine the presence of absence of the occupant within the definedregion, wherein the controller is adapted to: transmit acoustic signalsusing the acoustic transmitter, receive acoustic signals using theacoustic receiver, process the received acoustic signals using thedemodulator, filter the processed acoustic signals using the variablebandpass filter, and process the filtered acoustic signals to determinethe presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver including: an acoustic sensor, apre-amplifier operably coupled to the acoustic sensor comprising adigital potentiometer, wherein the digital potentiometer is adapted tocontrol the gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping of signalsreceived by the acoustic receiver, and an analog to digital converteroperably coupled to the pre-amplifier, a demodulator operably coupled tothe acoustic receiver, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled tothe demodulator including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control again of the bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to controla tuning of the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted tocontrol a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to abandwidth of the bandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, the demodulator, andthe variable bandpass filter including: a pre-amplifier engine adaptedto control the acoustic receiver, a bandpass filter engine adapted tocontrol the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shift engine adapted tocharacterize the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter, andan occupancy sensing engine adapted to characterizations of the Dopplershift engine to determine the presence of absence of the occupant withinthe defined region including: a determination of possible noise enginefor processing signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter todetermine if they indicate a possible source of noise, a determinationof possible occupancy engine for processing the signals filtered by thevariable bandpass filter to determine if they indicate the possiblepresence of an occupant within the defined region, and a statisticalprocessing engine for processing the indications of possible noise andoccupants to determine if the defined region is occupied by an occupant,wherein the statistical processing engine determines that the definedregion is occupied by an occupant based upon the frequency of theindications of occupants within the defined region, wherein thecontroller is adapted to: transmit acoustic signals using the acoustictransmitter, receive acoustic signals using the acoustic receiver,process the received acoustic signals using the demodulator, filter theprocessed acoustic signals using the variable bandpass filter, andprocess the filtered acoustic signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver including: an acoustic sensor, apre-amplifier operably coupled to the acoustic sensor comprising adigital potentiometer, wherein the digital potentiometer is adapted tocontrol the gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping of signalsreceived by the acoustic receiver, and an analog to digital converteroperably coupled to the pre-amplifier, a demodulator operably coupled tothe acoustic receiver, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled tothe demodulator including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control again of the bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to controla tuning of the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted tocontrol a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to abandwidth of the bandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, the demodulator, andthe variable bandpass filter including: a pre-amplifier engine adaptedto control the acoustic receiver, a bandpass filter engine adapted tocontrol the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shift engine adapted tocharacterize the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter, andan occupancy sensing engine adapted to characterizations of the Dopplershift engine to determine the presence of absence of the occupant withinthe defined region including: a determination of noise engine forprocessing a subset of signals filtered by the variable bandpass filterto determine if they indicate a source of noise, and a determination ofoccupancy engine for processing the subset of the signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region, wherein the controller is adaptedto: transmit acoustic signals using the acoustic transmitter, receiveacoustic signals using the acoustic receiver, process the receivedacoustic signals using the demodulator, filter the processed acousticsignals using the variable bandpass filter, and process the filteredacoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver including: an acoustic sensor, apre-amplifier operably coupled to the acoustic sensor comprising adigital potentiometer, wherein the digital potentiometer is adapted tocontrol the gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping of signalsreceived by the acoustic receiver, and an analog to digital converteroperably coupled to the pre-amplifier, a demodulator operably coupled tothe acoustic receiver, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled tothe demodulator including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control again of the bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to controla tuning of the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted tocontrol a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to abandwidth of the bandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled tothe acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, the demodulator, andthe variable bandpass filter including: a pre-amplifier engine adaptedto control the acoustic receiver, a bandpass filter engine adapted tocontrol the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shift engine adapted tocharacterize the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter, andan occupancy sensing engine adapted to characterizations of the Dopplershift engine to determine the presence of absence of the occupant withinthe defined region including: a determination of noise engine forprocessing the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within apredetermined time period to determine if they indicate a source ofnoise, and a determination of occupancy engine for processing thesignals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within a predeterminedtime period to determine the presence or absence of an occupant withinthe defined region, wherein the controller is adapted to: transmitacoustic signals using the acoustic transmitter, receive acousticsignals using the acoustic receiver, process the received acousticsignals using the demodulator, filter the processed acoustic signalsusing the variable bandpass filter, and process the filtered acousticsignals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, filtering the receivedacoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter, and processing thefiltered acoustic signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region includes converting theacoustic signals into electrical signals, and amplifying the electricalsignals without clipping the electrical signals. In an exemplaryembodiment, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter includes sweeping the variable bandpass filter across arange of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering the receivedacoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter includes sweeping thevariable bandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, thensweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly along a range offrequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter includes sweeping the variablebandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, and thensweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter includes controlling a ratio ofa center frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter. In anexemplary embodiment, processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes time averaging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals,and comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acousticsignals. In an exemplary embodiment, processing the filtered acousticsignals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region includes determining if a filtered acoustic signalindicated a source of noise within the defined region. In an exemplaryembodiment, filtering the received acoustic signals includes searchingfor quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies that do notinclude background noise. In an exemplary embodiment, processing thefiltered acoustic signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes: time averaging an amplitudeof the filtered acoustic signals within the quiet bandwidth areas, andcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals.In an exemplary embodiment, filtering the received acoustic signalsincludes: searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a range offrequencies that include background noise. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered acoustic signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes: time averagingan amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals that are not within thenoisy bandwidth areas, and comparing the time averaged amplitudes of thefiltered acoustic signals. In an exemplary embodiment, processing thefiltered acoustic signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes: determining the possiblepresence of a source of noise within the defined region, and determiningthe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, the method further includes: determining thepresence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the methodfurther includes: determining the presence of an occupant within thedefined region as a function of the frequency of the determination ofthe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region relativeto the frequency of the determination of the possible presence of asource of noise within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered acoustic signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes: time averagingan amplitude of a subset of the filtered acoustic signals, and comparingthe time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals. In anexemplary embodiment, processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes: time averaging an amplitude of a subset of the filteredacoustic signals for a predetermined finite time period, and comparingthe time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals. In anexemplary embodiment, the method further includes monitoring infraredenergy within the defined region, and based upon the content of themonitored infrared energy determining the presence or absence of theoccupant within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredacoustic signals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredacoustic signals, determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates asource of noise within the defined region, and determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, searching for quiet bandwidth areas within arange of frequencies that do not include background noise, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals within the quietbandwidth areas, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredacoustic signals, determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates asource of noise within the defined region, and determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, searching for noisy bandwidth areas within arange of frequencies that include background noise, time averaging anamplitude of the filtered acoustic signals not within the noisybandwidth areas, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredacoustic signals, determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates asource of noise within the defined region, and determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredacoustic signals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredacoustic signals, determining a possible presence of a source of noisewithin the defined region, determining a possible presence of anoccupant within the defined region, and determining the presence of anoccupant within the defined region as a function of a frequency of thedetermination of the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredacoustic signals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredacoustic signals, determining a possible presence of a source of noisewithin the defined region, determining a possible presence of anoccupant within the defined region, and determining the presence of anoccupant within the defined region as a function of a frequency of thedetermination of the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion relative to a frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of a source of noise within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of a subset thefiltered acoustic signals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of thefiltered acoustic signals, determining if a filtered acoustic signalindicates a source of noise within the defined region, and determiningif a filtered acoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant withinthe defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals, filtering the received acousticsignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredacoustic signals for a finite time period, comparing the time averagedamplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a source of noise within the defined region,and determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a presence of anoccupant within the defined region.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forfiltering the received acoustic signals using a variable bandpassfilter, and means for processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.In an exemplary embodiment, means for receiving acoustic signals fromthe defined region includes: means for converting the acoustic signalsinto electrical signals, and means for amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals. In an exemplary embodiment,means for filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter includes: means for sweeping the variable bandpassfilter across a range of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, meansfor filtering the received acoustic signals using a variable bandpassfilter includes: means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, and then means for sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies. In anexemplary embodiment, means for filtering the received acoustic signalsusing a variable bandpass filter includes: means for sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, andthen means for sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along arange of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, means for filteringthe received acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter includes:means for controlling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth ofthe variable bandpass filter. In an exemplary embodiment, means forprocessing the filtered acoustic signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes: means for timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, and means forcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals.In an exemplary embodiment, means for processing the filtered acousticsignals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region includes: means for determining if a filtered acousticsignal indicated a source of noise within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, means for filtering the received acoustic signalsincludes: means for searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a rangeof frequencies that do not include background noise. In an exemplaryembodiment, means for processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes: means for time averaging an amplitude of the filtered acousticsignals within the quiet bandwidth areas, and means for comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals. In anexemplary embodiment, means for filtering the received acoustic signalsincludes: means for searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a rangeof frequencies that include background noise. In an exemplaryembodiment, means for processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes: means for time averaging an amplitude of the filtered acousticsignals that are not within the noisy bandwidth areas, and means forcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals.In an exemplary embodiment, means for processing the filtered acousticsignals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region includes: means for determining the possible presence ofa source of noise within the defined region, and means for determiningthe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, the system further includes: means for determiningthe presence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the systemfurther includes: means for determining the presence of an occupantwithin the defined region as a function of the frequency of thedetermination of the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion relative to the frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of a source of noise within the defined region. In an exemplaryembodiment, wherein means for processing the filtered acoustic signalsto determine a presence or absence of an occupant within a definedregion includes: means for time averaging an amplitude of a subset ofthe filtered acoustic signals, and means for comparing the time averagedamplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals. In an exemplary embodiment,means for processing the filtered acoustic signals to determine apresence or absence of an occupant within a defined region includes:means for time averaging an amplitude of a subset of the filteredacoustic signals for a predetermined finite time period, and means forcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals.In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes: means formonitoring infrared energy within the defined region, and means basedupon the content of the monitored infrared energy determining thepresence or absence of the occupant within the defined region.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forconverting the acoustic signals into electrical signals, means foramplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, means for filtering the received acoustic signals using avariable bandpass filter, means for controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, means forsweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, means for time averaging anamplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, means for comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, means fordetermining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noisewithin the defined region, and means for determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forconverting the acoustic signals into electrical signals, means foramplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, means for filtering the received acoustic signals using avariable bandpass filter, means for controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, means forsweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, means for searching for quietbandwidth areas within a range of frequencies that do not includebackground noise, means for time averaging an amplitude of the filteredacoustic signals within the quiet bandwidth areas, means for comparingthe time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, means fordetermining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noisewithin the defined region, and means for determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forconverting the acoustic signals into electrical signals, means foramplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, means for filtering the received acoustic signals using avariable bandpass filter, means for controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, means forsweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, means for searching for noisybandwidth areas within a range of frequencies that include backgroundnoise, means for time averaging an amplitude of the filtered acousticsignals not within the noisy bandwidth areas, means for comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, means fordetermining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noisewithin the defined region, and means for determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forconverting the acoustic signals into electrical signals, means foramplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, means for filtering the received acoustic signals using avariable bandpass filter, means for controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, means forsweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, means for time averaging anamplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, means for comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, means fordetermining a possible presence of a source of noise within the definedregion, means for determining a possible presence of an occupant withinthe defined region, and means for determining the presence of anoccupant within the defined region as a function of a frequency of thedetermination of the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forconverting the acoustic signals into electrical signals, means foramplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, means for filtering the received acoustic signals using avariable bandpass filter, means for controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, means forsweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, means for time averaging anamplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, means for comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, means fordetermining a possible presence of a source of noise within the definedregion, means for determining a possible presence of an occupant withinthe defined region, and means for determining the presence of anoccupant within the defined region as a function of a frequency of thedetermination of the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion relative to a frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of a source of noise within the defined region.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forconverting the acoustic signals into electrical signals, means foramplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, means for filtering the received acoustic signals using avariable bandpass filter, means for controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, means forsweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, means for time averaging anamplitude of a subset the filtered acoustic signals, means for comparingthe time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, means fordetermining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noisewithin the defined region, and means for determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forconverting the acoustic signals into electrical signals, means foramplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, means for filtering the received acoustic signals using avariable bandpass filter, means for controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, means forsweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, means for time averaging anamplitude of the filtered acoustic signals for a finite time period,means for comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredacoustic signals, means for determining if a filtered acoustic signalindicates a source of noise within the defined region, and means fordetermining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a presence of anoccupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, and processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.In an exemplary embodiment, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion includes program instructions for: converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals, and amplifying the electrical signalswithout clipping the electrical signals. In an exemplary embodiment,filtering the received acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filterincludes program instructions for: sweeping the variable bandpass filteracross a range of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering thereceived acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter includesprogram instructions for: sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardlyalong a range of frequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment,filtering the received acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filterincludes program instructions for: sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies; and then sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies. In an exemplaryembodiment, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter includes program instructions for: controlling a ratioof a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter. Inan exemplary embodiment, processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes program instructions for: time averaging an amplitude of thefiltered acoustic signals, and comparing the time averaged amplitudes ofthe filtered acoustic signals. In an exemplary embodiment, processingthe filtered acoustic signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes program instructions for:determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicated a source of noisewithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering thereceived acoustic signals includes program instructions for: searchingfor quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies that do notinclude background noise. In an exemplary embodiment, processing thefiltered acoustic signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes program instructions for: timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals within the quietbandwidth areas, and comparing the time averaged amplitudes of thefiltered acoustic signals. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering thereceived acoustic signals includes program instructions for: searchingfor noisy bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies that includebackground noise. In an exemplary embodiment, processing the filteredacoustic signals to determine a presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region includes program instructions for: timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals that are notwithin the noisy bandwidth areas, and comparing the time averagedamplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered acoustic signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes programinstructions for: determining the possible presence of a source of noisewithin the defined region, and determining the possible presence of anoccupant within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer program further includes program instructions for: determiningthe presence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the computerprogram further includes program instructions for: determining thepresence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of thefrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region relative to the frequency of the determinationof the possible presence of a source of noise within the defined region.In an exemplary embodiment, processing the filtered acoustic signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes program instructions for: time averaging an amplitude of asubset of the filtered acoustic signals, and comparing the time averagedamplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered acoustic signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes programinstructions for: time averaging an amplitude of a subset of thefiltered acoustic signals for a predetermined finite time period, andcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals.In an exemplary embodiment, the computer program further includesprogram instructions for: monitoring infrared energy within the definedregion, and based upon the content of the monitored infrared energydetermining the presence or absence of the occupant within the definedregion.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals,amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, determiningif a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noise within thedefined region, and determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicatesa presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals,amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies,searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies thatdo not include background noise, time averaging an amplitude of thefiltered acoustic signals within the quiet bandwidth areas, comparingthe time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals,determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noisewithin the defined region, and determining if a filtered acoustic signalindicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals,amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies,searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies thatinclude background noise, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredacoustic signals not within the noisy bandwidth areas, comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, determiningif a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noise within thedefined region, and determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicatesa presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals,amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, determining apossible presence of a source of noise within the defined region,determining a possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion, and determining the presence of an occupant within the definedregion as a function of a frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of an occupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals,amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals, determining apossible presence of a source of noise within the defined region,determining a possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion, and determining the presence of an occupant within the definedregion as a function of a frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of an occupant within the defined region relative to afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of a source ofnoise within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals,amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of a subset the filtered acoustic signals,comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals,determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noisewithin the defined region, and determining if a filtered acoustic signalindicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals,amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals, filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals for a finitetime period, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredacoustic signals, determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates asource of noise within the defined region, and determining if a filteredacoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes a sensor, acommunication interface for transmitting and receiving communicationsignals to and from a communication network, and a controller operablycoupled to the sensor and the communication interface, wherein thecontroller is adapted to: process signals generated by the sensor todetermine the presence or absence of an occupant within a definedregion, and communicate with the communication network using thecommunication interface. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensorincludes: an acoustic transmitter, and an acoustic receiver. In anexemplary embodiment, the sensor includes: an infrared sensor. In anexemplary embodiment, the sensor includes: an acoustic transmitter; anacoustic receiver; and an infrared sensor. In an exemplary embodiment,the sensor further includes a memory operably coupled to the controllercomprising information representative of a network address for thesensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor further includes a memoryoperably coupled to the controller comprising information representativeof a data corresponding to the defined region. In an exemplaryembodiment, the controller is adapted to permit remote control of theoccupancy sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller is adaptedto permit remote control of the occupancy sensor during a first timeperiod, and wherein the controller is adapted to permit local control ofthe occupancy sensor during a second time period. In an exemplaryembodiment, the controller is adapted to permit remote updates of theinformation representative of a data corresponding to the definedregion. In an exemplary embodiment, the memory includes informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor. In anexemplary embodiment, the memory includes information representative ofan office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver, a communication interface fortransmitting and receiving communication signals to and from acommunication network, a memory comprising information representative ofa network address for the sensor, information representative of datacorresponding to the defined region, information representative of anoperating schedule for the occupancy sensor, and informationrepresentative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancysensor, and a controller operably coupled to the acoustic transmitter,acoustic receiver, the communication interface, and the memory, whereinthe controller is adapted to: transmit acoustic signals using theacoustic transmitter, receive acoustic signals using the acousticreceiver, process the received acoustic signals to determine thepresence or absence of an occupant within a defined region, communicatewith the communication network using the communication interface, permitremote control of the occupancy sensor during a first time period andpermit local control of the occupancy sensor during a second timeperiod, and permit remote updates of the information representative of anetwork address for the sensor, information representative of datacorresponding to the defined region, information representative of anoperating schedule for the occupancy sensor, and informationrepresentative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancysensor.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes an acoustictransmitter, an acoustic receiver, an infrared sensor, a communicationinterface for transmitting and receiving communication signals to andfrom a communication network, a memory comprising informationrepresentative of a network address for the sensor, informationrepresentative of data corresponding to the defined region, informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor, andinformation representative of an office plan location assigned to theoccupancy sensor, and a controller operably coupled to the acoustictransmitter, acoustic receiver, the infrared sensor, the communicationinterface, and the memory, wherein the controller is adapted to:transmit acoustic signals using the acoustic transmitter, receiveacoustic signals using the acoustic receiver, process the receivedacoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region, process the signals generated by the infraredsecond to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region, communicate with the communication network using thecommunication interface, permit remote control of the occupancy sensorduring a first time period and permit local control of the occupancysensor during a second time period, and permit remote updates of theinformation representative of a network address for the sensor,information representative of data corresponding to the defined region,information representative of an operating schedule for the occupancysensor, and information representative of an office plan locationassigned to the occupancy sensor.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes using a sensor to monitor a defined region, processing signalsgenerated by the sensor to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region, and communicating with the occupancysensor using a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the method furtherincludes: transmitting acoustic signals into the defined region,receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, and processing thereceived acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, themethod further includes: monitoring infrared energy within the definedregion, and processing the monitored infrared energy to determine thepresence or absence of an occupant within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, the method further includes: transmitting acousticsignals into the defined region, receiving acoustic signals from thedefined region, monitoring infrared energy within the defined region,processing the received acoustic signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within the defined region, and processing themonitored infrared energy to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, themethod further includes: assigning a network address to the sensor. Inan exemplary embodiment, the method further includes: storinginformation within the sensor that corresponds to the defined region. Inan exemplary embodiment, the method further includes: remotelycontrolling one or more operational aspects of the occupancy sensor. Inan exemplary embodiment, the method further includes: remotelycontrolling one or more operational aspects of the occupancy sensorduring a first time period, and locally controlling the one or moreoperational aspects during a second time period. In an exemplaryembodiment, the method further includes: remotely updating theinformation representative of a data corresponding to the definedregion. In an exemplary embodiment, wherein the informationrepresentative of a data corresponding to the defined region includesinformation representative of an operating schedule for the occupancysensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the information representative ofdata corresponding to the defined region includes informationrepresentative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancysensor.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, processing the receivedacoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin the defined region, communicating with the occupancy sensor usinga network, assigning a network address to the sensor, storinginformation within the sensor that corresponds to the defined region,remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the occupancysensor during a first time period, locally controlling the one or moreoperational aspects during a second time period, and remotely updatingthe information representative of a data corresponding to the definedregion, wherein the information representative of data corresponding tothe defined region includes information representative of an operatingschedule for the occupancy sensor, and wherein the informationrepresentative of data corresponding to the defined region includesinformation representative of an office plan location assigned to theoccupancy sensor.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region, receivingacoustic signals from the defined region, monitoring infrared energywithin the defined region, processing the received acoustic signals todetermine the presence or absence of an occupant within the definedregion, processing the infrared energy to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within the defined region, communicating with theoccupancy sensor using a network, assigning a network address to thesensor, storing information within the sensor that corresponds to thedefined region, remotely controlling one or more operational aspects ofthe occupancy sensor during a first time period, locally controlling theone or more operational aspects during a second time period, andremotely updating the information representative of a data correspondingto the defined region, wherein the information representative of datacorresponding to the defined region includes information representativeof an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor, and wherein theinformation representative of data corresponding to the defined regionincludes information representative of an office plan location assignedto the occupancy sensor.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes means for monitoring a defined region to determine a presenceor absence of an occupant within the defined region, and means forcommunicating with the occupancy sensor using a network. In an exemplaryembodiment, the system further includes: means for transmitting acousticsignals into the defined region, means for receiving acoustic signalsfrom the defined region, and means for processing the received acousticsignals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within thedefined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includesmeans for monitoring infrared energy within the defined region, andmeans for processing the monitored infrared energy to determine thepresence or absence of an occupant within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, the system further includes: means fortransmitting acoustic signals into the defined region, means forreceiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means for processingthe received acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region, means for monitoring infrared energywithin the defined region, and means for processing the monitoredinfrared energy to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the systemfurther includes: means for assigning a network address to the sensor.In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes: means forstoring information within the sensor that corresponds to the definedregion. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes: meansfor remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of theoccupancy sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the system furtherincludes: means for remotely controlling one or more operational aspectsof the occupancy sensor during a first time period, and means forlocally controlling the one or more operational aspects during a secondtime period. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes:means for remotely updating the information representative of a datacorresponding to the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, theinformation representative of a data corresponding to the defined regionincludes information representative of an operating schedule for theoccupancy sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the informationrepresentative of a data corresponding to the defined region includesinformation representative of an office plan location assigned to theoccupancy sensor.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region,means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region; means forprocessing the received acoustic signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within the defined region; means forcommunicating with the occupancy sensor using a network; means forassigning a network address to the sensor; means for storing informationwithin the sensor that corresponds to the defined region; means forremotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the occupancysensor during a first time period; means for locally controlling the oneor more operational aspects during a second time period, and means forremotely updating the information representative of a data correspondingto the defined region, wherein the information representative of datacorresponding to the defined region includes information representativeof an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor, and wherein theinformation representative of data corresponding to the defined regionincludes information representative of an office plan location assignedto the occupancy sensor.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring infrared energy within a defined region,means for transmitting acoustic signals into the defined region, meansfor receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, means forprocessing the received acoustic signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within the defined region, means for processingthe monitored infrared energy to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region, means for communicating with theoccupancy sensor using a network, means for assigning a network addressto the sensor, means for storing information within the sensor thatcorresponds to the defined region, means for remotely controlling one ormore operational aspects of the occupancy sensor during a first timeperiod, means for locally controlling the one or more operationalaspects during a second time period, and means for remotely updating theinformation representative of a data corresponding to the definedregion, wherein the information representative of data corresponding tothe defined region includes information representative of an operatingschedule for the occupancy sensor, and wherein the informationrepresentative of data corresponding to the defined region includesinformation representative of an office plan location assigned to theoccupancy sensor.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring a defined region todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within the definedregion, and communicating with the occupancy sensor using a network. Inan exemplary embodiment, the computer program further includes programinstructions for: transmitting acoustic signals into the defined region,receiving acoustic signals from the defined region, and processing thereceived acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer program further includes program instructions for: monitoringinfrared energy within the defined region, and processing the monitoredinfrared energy to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the computerprogram further includes program instructions for: transmitting acousticsignals into the defined region, receiving acoustic signals from thedefined region, processing the received acoustic signals to determinethe presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region,monitoring infrared energy within the defined region, and processing themonitored infrared energy to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer program further includes program instructions for: assigning anetwork address to the sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the computerprogram further includes program instructions for: storing informationwithin the sensor that corresponds to the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, the computer program further includes programinstructions for: remotely controlling one or more operational aspectsof the occupancy sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the computerprogram further includes program instructions for: remotely controllingone or more operational aspects of the occupancy sensor during a firsttime period, and locally controlling the one or more operational aspectsduring a second time period. In an exemplary embodiment, the computerprogram further includes program instructions for: remotely updating theinformation representative of a data corresponding to the definedregion. In an exemplary embodiment, the information representative of adata corresponding to the defined region includes informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor. In anexemplary embodiment, the information representative of a datacorresponding to the defined region includes information representativeof an office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, processing the received acoustic signals to determine thepresence or absence of an occupant within the defined region,communicating with the occupancy sensor using a network, assigning anetwork address to the sensor, storing information within the sensorthat corresponds to the defined region, remotely controlling one or moreoperational aspects of the occupancy sensor during a first time period,locally controlling the one or more operational aspects during a secondtime period, and remotely updating the information representative of adata corresponding to the defined region, wherein the informationrepresentative of data corresponding to the defined region includesinformation representative of an operating schedule for the occupancysensor, and wherein the information representative of data correspondingto the defined region includes information representative of an officeplan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signalsinto a defined region, receiving acoustic signals from the definedregion, monitoring infrared energy in the defined region, processing thereceived acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within the defined region, processing the monitored infraredenergy to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within thedefined region, communicating with the occupancy sensor using a network,assigning a network address to the sensor, storing information withinthe sensor that corresponds to the defined region, remotely controllingone or more operational aspects of the occupancy sensor during a firsttime period, locally controlling the one or more operational aspectsduring a second time period, and remotely updating the informationrepresentative of a data corresponding to the defined region, whereinthe information representative of data corresponding to the definedregion includes information representative of an operating schedule forthe occupancy sensor, and wherein the information representative of datacorresponding to the defined region includes information representativeof an office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

A control system has been described that includes: one or more occupancysensors, a communication network operably coupled to the occupancysensor, and one or more remote controllers operably coupled to thecommunication network, wherein one or more of the remote controllers areadapted to permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of theoccupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of theoccupancy sensors include network addresses. In an exemplary embodiment,one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to display informationcorresponding to one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors. In anexemplary embodiment, one or more of the remote controllers are adaptedto control one or more operational parameters of one or more of theaddressable occupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, one or moreof the remote controllers are adapted to control one or more operationalparameters of one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors during afirst time period, and one or more operational parameters of the one ormore addressable occupancy sensors are controlled by the correspondingoccupancy sensor during a second time period. In an exemplaryembodiment, one or more of the occupancy sensors include a memorycomprising one or more operational parameters of the correspondingoccupancy sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the remotecontrollers are adapted to update one or more of the operationalparameters of the corresponding occupancy sensor. In an exemplaryembodiment, the operational parameters include informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the corresponding occupancysensor. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the remotecontrollers are adapted to display floor plan information correspondingto one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors.

A control system has been described that includes: one or more occupancysensors including: corresponding network addresses, and a memorycomprising one or more operational parameters of the correspondingoccupancy sensor, and a communication network operably coupled to theoccupancy sensor, one or more remote controllers operably coupled to thecommunication network, wherein one or more of the remote controllers areadapted to: permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of theoccupancy sensors, display information corresponding to the operationalparameters for one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors, controlone or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressableoccupancy sensors during a first time period and permit local control ofthe one or more addressable occupancy sensors during a second timeperiod, and update one or more of the operational parameters of thecorresponding occupancy sensor, and wherein the operational parametersinclude information representative of an operating schedule and floorplan information for the corresponding occupancy sensor.

A method of operating a control system including one or more occupancysensors has been described that includes: providing one or more remotecontrollers, and controlling and monitoring one or more operationalaspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors. In an exemplaryembodiment, the method further includes: assigning network addresses toone or more of the occupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, themethod further includes: remotely displaying information correspondingto one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors. In an exemplaryembodiment, the method further includes: remotely controlling one ormore operational parameters of one or more of the addressable occupancysensors. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes:remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or moreof the addressable occupancy sensors during a first time period, andlocally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one ormore addressable occupancy sensors during a second time period. In anexemplary embodiment, the method further includes: storing one or moreoperational parameters of the occupancy sensors within the correspondingoccupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, the method furtherincludes: remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters ofthe corresponding occupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, theoperational parameters include information representative of anoperating schedule for the corresponding occupancy sensor. In anexemplary embodiment, the method further includes: remotely displayingfloor plan information corresponding to one or more of the addressableoccupancy sensors.

A method of operating a control system comprising one or more occupancysensors has been described that includes: providing one or more remotecontrollers, controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspectsof one or more of the occupancy sensors, assigning network addresses toone or more of the occupancy sensors, remotely displaying informationcorresponding to one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors,remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or moreof the addressable occupancy sensors during a first time period, locallycontrolling the one or more operational parameters of the one or moreaddressable occupancy sensors during a second time period, storing oneor more operational parameters of the occupancy sensors within thecorresponding occupancy sensors, and remotely updating one or more ofthe operational parameters of the corresponding occupancy sensors,wherein the operational parameters include information representative ofan operating schedule and floor plan information for the correspondingoccupancy sensor.

A system for operating a control system comprising one or more occupancysensors has been described that includes: means for providing one ormore remote controllers, and means for remotely controlling andmonitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of theoccupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, the system furtherincludes: means for assigning network addresses to one or more of theoccupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, the system furtherincludes: means for remotely displaying information corresponding to oneor more of the addressable occupancy sensors. In an exemplaryembodiment, the system further includes: means for remotely controllingone or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressableoccupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, the system furtherincludes: means for remotely controlling one or more operationalparameters of one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors during afirst time period, and means for locally controlling the one or moreoperational parameters of the one or more addressable occupancy sensorsduring a second time period. In an exemplary embodiment, the systemfurther includes: means for storing one or more operational parametersof the occupancy sensors within the corresponding occupancy sensors. Inan exemplary embodiment, the system further includes: means for remotelyupdating one or more of the operational parameters of the correspondingoccupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, the operationalparameters include information representative of an operating schedulefor the corresponding occupancy sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, thesystem further includes means for remotely displaying floor planinformation corresponding to one or more of the addressable occupancysensors.

A system for operating a control system comprising one or more occupancysensors has been described that includes: means for providing one ormore remote controllers, means for controlling and monitoring one ormore operational aspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors, meansfor assigning network addresses to one or more of the occupancy sensors,means for remotely displaying information corresponding to one or moreof the addressable occupancy sensors, means for remotely controlling oneor more operational parameters of one or more of the addressableoccupancy sensors during a first time period, means for locallycontrolling the one or more operational parameters of the one or moreaddressable occupancy sensors during a second time period, means forstoring one or more operational parameters of the occupancy sensorswithin the corresponding occupancy sensors, and means for remotelyupdating one or more of the operational parameters of the correspondingoccupancy sensors, wherein the operational parameters includeinformation representative of an operating schedule and floor planinformation for the corresponding occupancy sensor.

A computer program for operating a control system including one or moreoccupancy sensors has been described that includes program instructionsfor: remotely controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspectsof one or more of the occupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer program further includes program instructions for: assigningnetwork addresses to one or more of the occupancy sensors. In anexemplary embodiment, the computer program further includes programinstructions for: remotely displaying information corresponding to oneor more of the addressable occupancy sensors. In an exemplaryembodiment, the computer program further includes program instructionsfor: remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one ormore of the addressable occupancy sensors. In an exemplary embodiment,the computer program further includes program instructions for: remotelycontrolling one or more operational parameters of one or more of theaddressable occupancy sensors during a first time period, and locallycontrolling the one or more operational parameters of the one or moreaddressable occupancy sensors during a second time period. In anexemplary embodiment, the computer program further includes programinstructions for: storing one or more operational parameters of theoccupancy sensors within the corresponding occupancy sensors. In anexemplary embodiment, the computer program further includes programinstructions for: remotely updating one or more of the operationalparameters of the corresponding occupancy sensors. In an exemplaryembodiment, the operational parameters include informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the corresponding occupancysensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the computer program furtherincludes program instructions for: remotely displaying floor planinformation corresponding to one or more of the addressable occupancysensors.

A computer program for operating a control system including one or moreoccupancy sensors has been described that includes program instructionsfor: providing one or more remote controllers, controlling andmonitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of theoccupancy sensors, assigning network addresses to one or more of theoccupancy sensors, remotely displaying information corresponding to oneor more of the addressable occupancy sensors, remotely controlling oneor more operational parameters of one or more of the addressableoccupancy sensors during a first time period, locally controlling theone or more operational parameters of the one or more addressableoccupancy sensors during a second time period, storing one or moreoperational parameters of the occupancy sensors within the correspondingoccupancy sensors, and remotely updating one or more of the operationalparameters of the corresponding occupancy sensors, wherein theoperational parameters include information representative of anoperating schedule and floor plan information for the correspondingoccupancy sensor.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes: an infraredsensor, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infraredsensor, and a controller operably coupled to the infrared sensor and thevariable bandpass filter, wherein the controller is adapted to: filterthe signals generated by the infrared sensor using the variable bandpassfilter, and process the filtered signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region. In an exemplaryembodiment, the variable bandpass filter includes: one or more digitalpotentiometers adapted to control or more of the following: a gain ofthe bandpass filter, a tuning of the bandpass filter, and a ratio of acenter frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of the bandpassfilter. In an exemplary embodiment, the variable bandpass filterincludes: a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain of thebandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuning ofthe bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted to control aratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of thebandpass filter. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller includes: abandpass filter engine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter,a doppler shift engine adapted to characterize the signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter, and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region. In an exemplaryembodiment, the bandpass filter engine includes: a bandpass filtertuning engine for controlling the bandpass region of the variablebandpass filter, a bandpass filter gain engine for controlling a gain ofthe variable bandpass filter, a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter engine for controlling theratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpassfilter, and a sweeping engine for controlling a sweeping of the variablebandpass filter across a range of frequencies. In an exemplaryembodiment, the doppler shift engine includes: a time averaging enginefor time averaging an amplitude of signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter, a comparison engine for comparing the time averagedamplitude of signals, and a difference engine for determining adifference in the amplitudes of the time averaged signals. In anexemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensing engine includes: adetermination of noise engine for processing the signals filtered by thevariable bandpass filter to determine if they indicate a source ofnoise, and a determination of occupancy engine for processing thesignals filtered by the variable bandpass filter to determine thepresence or absence of an occupant within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, the bandpass filter engine includes: a quietbandwidth search engine for searching a range of frequencies for quietbandwidth areas that do not include background noise. In an exemplaryembodiment, the doppler shift engine includes: a time averaging enginefor time averaging an amplitude of signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter within the quiet bandwidth areas, a comparison enginefor comparing the time averaged amplitude of signals, and a differenceengine for determining a difference in the amplitudes of the timeaveraged signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the bandpass filter engineincludes: a noisy bandwidth search engine for searching a range offrequencies for noisy bandwidth areas that include background noise. Inan exemplary embodiment, the doppler shift engine includes: a timeaveraging engine for time averaging an amplitude of signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter that are not within the noisy bandwidthareas, a comparison engine for comparing the time averaged amplitude ofsignals, and a difference engine for determining a difference in theamplitudes of the time averaged signals. In an exemplary embodiment, theoccupancy sensing engine includes: a determination of possible noiseengine for processing the signals filtered by the variable bandpassfilter to determine if they indicate a possible source of noise, adetermination of possible occupancy engine for processing the signalsfiltered by the variable bandpass filter to determine if they indicatethe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region, astatistical processing engine for processing the indications of possiblenoise and occupants to determine if the defined region is occupied by anoccupant. In an exemplary embodiment, the statistical processing enginedetermines that the defined region is occupied by an occupant based uponthe frequency of the indications of occupants within the defined region.In an exemplary embodiment, the statistical processing engine determinesthat the defined region is occupied by an occupant based upon thefrequency of the indications of occupants within the defined regionrelative to the frequency of the indications of a source of noise withinthe defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancy sensingengine includes: a determination of noise engine for processing a subsetof the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter to determine ifthey indicate a source of noise, and a determination of occupancy enginefor processing the subset of the signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the occupancysensing engine includes: a determination of noise engine for processingthe signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within apredetermined time period to determine if they indicate a source ofnoise, and a determination of occupancy engine for processing thesignals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within a predeterminedtime period to determine the presence or absence of an occupant withinthe defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes: an infraredsensor, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infraredsensor including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain ofthe bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuningof the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted to control aratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of thebandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled to the infraredsensor and the variable bandpass filter including: a bandpass filterengine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shiftengine adapted to characterize the signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter, and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region, wherein thecontroller is adapted to: filter the signals generated by the infraredsensor using the variable bandpass filter, and process the filteredsignals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes: an infraredsensor, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infraredsensor including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain ofthe bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuningof the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted to control aratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of thebandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled to the infraredsensor and the variable bandpass filter including: a bandpass filterengine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter including: aquiet bandwidth search engine for searching a range of frequencies forquiet bandwidth areas that do not include background thermal noise, adoppler shift engine adapted to characterize the signals filtered by thevariable bandpass filter within the quiet bandwidth areas, and anoccupancy sensing engine adapted to characterizations of the Dopplershift engine to determine the presence of absence of the occupant withinthe defined region, wherein the controller is adapted to: filter thesignals generated by the infrared sensor using the variable bandpassfilter, and process the filtered signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes: an infraredsensor, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infraredsensor including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain ofthe bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuningof the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted to control aratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of thebandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled to the infraredsensor and the variable bandpass filter including: a bandpass filterengine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter including: anoisy bandwidth search engine for searching a range of frequencies fornoisy bandwidth areas that include background thermal noise, a dopplershift engine adapted to characterize the signals filtered by thevariable bandpass filter that are not within the noisy bandwidth areas,and an occupancy sensing engine adapted to characterizations of theDoppler shift engine to determine the presence of absence of theoccupant within the defined region, wherein the controller is adaptedto: filter the signals generated by the infrared sensor using thevariable bandpass filter, and process the filtered signals to determinethe presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes: an infraredsensor, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infraredsensor including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain ofthe bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuningof the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted to control aratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of thebandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled to the infraredsensor and the variable bandpass filter including: a bandpass filterengine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shiftengine adapted to characterize the signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter, and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the Doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region including: adetermination of possible noise engine for processing signals filteredby the variable bandpass filter to determine if they indicate a possiblesource of thermal noise, a determination of possible occupancy enginefor processing the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter todetermine if they indicate the possible presence of an occupant withinthe defined region, and a statistical processing engine for processingthe indications of possible thermal noise and occupants to determine ifthe defined region is occupied by an occupant, wherein the statisticalprocessing engine determines that the defined region is occupied by anoccupant based upon the frequency of the indications of occupants withinthe defined region, wherein the controller is adapted to: filter thesignals generated by the infrared sensor using the variable bandpassfilter, and process the filtered signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes: an infraredsensor, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infraredsensor including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain ofthe bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuningof the bandpass filter, and a digital potentiometer adapted to control aratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of thebandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled to the infraredsensor and the variable bandpass filter including: a bandpass filterengine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shiftengine adapted to characterize the signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter, and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the Doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region including: adetermination of noise engine for processing a subset of signalsfiltered by the variable bandpass filter to determine if they indicate asource of thermal noise, and a determination of occupancy engine forprocessing the subset of the signals filtered by the variable bandpassfilter to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within thedefined region, wherein the controller is adapted to: filter the signalsgenerated by the infrared sensor using the variable bandpass filter, andprocess the filtered signals to determine the presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region.

An occupancy sensor has been described that includes: an infraredsensor, a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infraredsensor including: a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain ofthe bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuningof the bandpass filter, a digital potentiometer adapted to control aratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of thebandpass filter, and a controller operably coupled to the infraredsensor and the variable bandpass filter including: a bandpass filterengine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter, a doppler shiftengine adapted to characterize the signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter, and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region including: adetermination of noise engine for processing the signals filtered by thevariable bandpass filter within a predetermined time period to determineif they indicate a source of thermal noise, and a determination ofoccupancy engine for processing the signals filtered by the variablebandpass filter within a predetermined time period to determine thepresence or absence of an occupant within the defined region, whereinthe controller is adapted to: filter the signals generated by theinfrared sensor using the variable bandpass filter, and process thefiltered signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: monitoring thermal energy within a defined region to generatesignals representative of the thermal energy within the defined region,filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, and processingthe filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter includes: sweeping the variablebandpass filter across a range of frequencies. In an exemplaryembodiment, filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filterincludes: sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a rangeof frequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardlyalong a range of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter includes: sweeping the variablebandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies; and thensweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering the signals using avariable bandpass filter includes: controlling a ratio of a centerfrequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter. In anexemplary embodiment, processing the filtered signals to determine apresence or absence of an occupant within a defined region includes:time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signals, and comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplaryembodiment, processing the filtered signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes: determining ifa filtered signal indicated a source of thermal noise within the definedregion. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering the signals includes:searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies thatdo not include background thermal noise. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes: time averaging an amplitudeof the filtered signals within the quiet bandwidth areas, and comparingthe time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplaryembodiment, filtering the signals includes: searching for noisybandwidth areas within a range of frequencies that include backgroundthermal noise. In an exemplary embodiment, processing the filteredsignals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region includes: time averaging an amplitude of the filteredsignals that are not within the noisy bandwidth areas, and comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplaryembodiment, processing the filtered signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes: determining thepossible presence of a source of thermal noise within the definedregion, and determining the possible presence of an occupant within thedefined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includesdetermining the presence of an occupant within the defined region as afunction of a frequency of the determination of the possible presence ofan occupant within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, themethod further includes: determining the presence of an occupant withinthe defined region as a function of the frequency of the determinationof the possible presence of an occupant within the defined regionrelative to the frequency of the determination of the possible presenceof a source of thermal noise within the defined region. In an exemplaryembodiment, processing the filtered signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes: time averagingan amplitude of a subset of the filtered signals, and comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes: time averaging an amplitudeof a subset of the filtered signals for a predetermined finite timeperiod, and comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredsignals.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: monitoring thermal energy within a defined region andgenerating signals representative of the thermal energy, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredsignals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals,determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermal noisewithin the defined region, and determining if a filtered signalindicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: monitoring thermal energy within a defined region andgenerating signals representative of the thermal energy, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, searching for quiet bandwidth areas within arange of frequencies that do not include background thermal noise, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered signals within the quietbandwidth areas, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredsignals, determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermalnoise within the defined region, and determining if a filtered signalindicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes monitoring thermal energy within a defined region andgenerating signals representative of the thermal energy, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, searching for noisy bandwidth areas within arange of frequencies that include background thermal noise, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered signals not within the noisybandwidth areas, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredsignals, determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermalnoise within the defined region, and determining if a filtered signalindicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: monitoring thermal energy within a defined region andgenerating signals representative of the thermal energy, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredsignals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals,determining a possible presence of a source of thermal noise within thedefined region, determining a possible presence of an occupant withinthe defined region, and determining the presence of an occupant withinthe defined region as a function of a frequency of the determination ofthe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: monitoring thermal energy within a defined region andgenerating signals representative of the thermal energy, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of the filteredsignals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals,determining a possible presence of a source of thermal noise within thedefined region, determining a possible presence of an occupant withinthe defined region, and determining the presence of an occupant withinthe defined region as a function of a frequency of the determination ofthe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region relativeto a frequency of the determination of the possible presence of a sourceof thermal noise within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: monitoring thermal energy within a defined region andgenerating signals representative of the thermal energy, filtering thesignals using a variable bandpass filter, controlling a ratio of acenter frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter,sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range offrequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude of a subset thefiltered signals, comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredsignals, determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermalnoise within the defined region, and determining if a filtered signalindicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A method of operating an occupancy sensor, including: monitoring thermalenergy within a defined region and generating signals representative ofthe thermal energy, filtering the signals using a variable bandpassfilter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of thevariable bandpass filter, sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardlyalong a range of frequencies, then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies, time averaging an amplitude ofthe filtered signals for a finite time period, comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals, determining if a filteredsignal indicates a source of noise within the defined region, anddetermining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupantwithin the defined region.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, and means forprocessing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter includes: meansfor sweeping the variable bandpass filter across a range of frequencies.In an exemplary embodiment, means for filtering the signals using avariable bandpass filter includes: means for sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, and then meansfor sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly along a range offrequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, means for filtering the signalsusing a variable bandpass filter includes: means for sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, andthen means for sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along arange of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, means for filteringthe signals using a variable bandpass filter includes: means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter. In an exemplary embodiment, means for processing thefiltered signals to determine a presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region includes: means for time averaging an amplitudeof the filtered signals, and means for comparing the time averagedamplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplary embodiment, meansfor processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absenceof an occupant within a defined region includes: means for determiningif a filtered signal indicated a source of thermal noise within thedefined region. In an exemplary embodiment, means for filtering thesignals includes: means for searching for quiet bandwidth areas within arange of frequencies that do not include background thermal noise. In anexemplary embodiment, means for processing the filtered signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes: means for time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signalswithin the quiet bandwidth areas, and means for comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplary embodiment,means for filtering the signals includes: means for searching for noisybandwidth areas within a range of frequencies that include backgroundthermal noise. In an exemplary embodiment, means for processing thefiltered signals to determine a presence or absence of an occupantwithin a defined region includes: means for time averaging an amplitudeof the filtered signals that are not within the noisy bandwidth areas,and means for comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredsignals. In an exemplary embodiment, means for processing the filteredsignals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region includes: means for determining the possible presence ofa source of thermal noise within the defined region, and means fordetermining the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes: meansfor determining the presence of an occupant within the defined region asa function of a frequency of the determination of the possible presenceof an occupant within the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment,the system further includes: means for determining the presence of anoccupant within the defined region as a function of the frequency of thedetermination of the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion relative to the frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of a source of thermal noise within the defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, means for processing the filtered signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes: means for time averaging an amplitude of a subset of thefiltered signals, and means for comparing the time averaged amplitudesof the filtered signals. In an exemplary embodiment, means forprocessing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes: means for time averaging anamplitude of a subset of the filtered signals for a predetermined finitetime period, and means for comparing the time averaged amplitudes of thefiltered signals.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter, means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, meansfor time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signals, means forcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals, meansfor determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermal noisewithin the defined region, and means for determining if a filteredsignal indicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter, means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, meansfor searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequenciesthat do not include background thermal noise, means for time averagingan amplitude of the filtered signals within the quiet bandwidth areas,means for comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredsignals, means for determining if a filtered signal indicates a sourceof thermal noise within the defined region, and means for determining ifa filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter, means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, meansfor searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a range of frequenciesthat include background thermal noise, means for time averaging anamplitude of the filtered signals not within the noisy bandwidth areas,means for comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filteredsignals, means for determining if a filtered signal indicates a sourceof thermal noise within the defined region, and means for determining ifa filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter, means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, meansfor time averaging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals, meansfor comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals,means for determining a possible presence of a source of thermal noisewithin the defined region, means for determining a possible presence ofan occupant within the defined region, and means for determining thepresence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter, means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, meansfor time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signals, means forcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals, meansfor determining a possible presence of a source of thermal noise withinthe defined region, means for determining a possible presence of anoccupant within the defined region, and means for determining thepresence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region relative to a frequency of the determinationof the possible presence of a source of thermal noise within the definedregion.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter, means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, meansfor time averaging an amplitude of a subset the filtered signals, meansfor comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals,means for determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermalnoise within the defined region, and means for determining if a filteredsignal indicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A system for operating an occupancy sensor has been described thatincludes: means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined regionand generating signals representative of the thermal energy, means forfiltering the signals using a variable bandpass filter, means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter, means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies, means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, meansfor time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signals for a finitetime period, means for comparing the time averaged amplitudes of thefiltered signals, means for determining if a filtered signal indicates asource of thermal noise within the defined region, and means fordetermining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupantwithin the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, and processing the filtered signals to determine apresence or absence of an occupant within a defined region. In anexemplary embodiment, filtering the signals using a variable bandpassfilter includes program instructions for: sweeping the variable bandpassfilter across a range of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment,filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter includes programinstructions for: sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along arange of frequencies; and then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment,filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter includes programinstructions for: sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly alonga range of frequencies, and then sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment,filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter includes programinstructions for: controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes program instructions for: timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered signals, and comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes program instructions for:determining if a filtered signal indicated a source of noise within thedefined region. In an exemplary embodiment, filtering the receivedsignals includes program instructions for: searching for quiet bandwidthareas within a range of frequencies that do not include backgroundthermal noise. In an exemplary embodiment, processing the filteredsignals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region includes program instructions for: time averaging anamplitude of the filtered signals within the quiet bandwidth areas, andcomparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In anexemplary embodiment, filtering the signals includes programinstructions for: searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a range offrequencies that include background thermal noise. In an exemplaryembodiment, processing the filtered signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region includes programinstructions for: time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signalsthat are not within the noisy bandwidth areas, and comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes program instructions for:determining the possible presence of a source of thermal noise withinthe defined region, and determining the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the computerprogram further includes program instructions for: determining thepresence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region. In an exemplary embodiment, the computerprogram further includes program instructions for: determining thepresence of an occupant within the defined region as a function of thefrequency of the determination of the possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region relative to the frequency of the determinationof the possible presence of a source of thermal noise within the definedregion. In an exemplary embodiment, processing the filtered signals todetermine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined regionincludes program instructions for: time averaging an amplitude of asubset of the filtered signals, and comparing the time averagedamplitudes of the filtered signals. In an exemplary embodiment,processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of anoccupant within a defined region includes program instructions for: timeaveraging an amplitude of a subset of the filtered signals for apredetermined finite time period, and comparing the time averagedamplitudes of the filtered signals.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered signals, comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals, determining if a filteredsignal indicates a source of thermal noise within the defined region,and determining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupantwithin the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies,searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies thatdo not include background thermal noise, time averaging an amplitude ofthe filtered signals within the quiet bandwidth areas, comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals, determining if afiltered signal indicates a source of thermal noise within the definedregion, and determining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of anoccupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies,searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies thatinclude background thermal noise, time averaging an amplitude of thefiltered signals not within the noisy bandwidth areas, comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals, determining if afiltered signal indicates a source of thermal noise within the definedregion and determining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of anoccupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered signals, comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals, determining a possiblepresence of a source of thermal noise within the defined region,determining a possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion, and determining the presence of an occupant within the definedregion as a function of a frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of an occupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered signals, comparing the timeaveraged amplitudes of the filtered signals, determining a possiblepresence of a source of thermal noise within the defined region,determining a possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion, and determining the presence of an occupant within the definedregion as a function of a frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of an occupant within the defined region relative to afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of a source ofthermal noise within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of a subset the filtered signals, comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals, determining if afiltered signal indicates a source of thermal noise within the definedregion, and determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates apresence of an occupant within the defined region.

A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor has been describedthat includes program instructions for: monitoring thermal energy withina defined region to generate signals representative of the thermalenergy within the defined region, filtering the signals using a variablebandpass filter, controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter, sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies, then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies, timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered signals for a finite time period,comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals,determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermal noisewithin the defined region, and determining if a filtered signalindicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region.

A switchpack for controlling an operational state of one or more loadshas been described that includes: a communication interface fortransmitting and receiving communication signals to and from acommunication network, and a controller operably coupled to thecommunication interface and adapted to be operably coupled to the one ormore loads, wherein the controller is adapted to: control an operationalstate of the one or more of the loads, and communicate with thecommunication network using the communication interface. In an exemplaryembodiment, the switchpack further includes: a memory operably coupledto the controller comprising a network address assigned to theswitchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller is adapted topermit remote control of the switchpack using the communication network.In an exemplary embodiment, the controller is adapted to permit remotecontrol of the switchpack using the communication network during a firsttime period; and wherein the controller is adapted to permit localcontrol of the switchpack during a second time period. In an exemplaryembodiment, the switchpack further includes: a memory operably coupledto the controller comprising information assigned to the switchpack. Inan exemplary embodiment, the controller is adapted to permit remotecontrol of the information assigned to the switchpack using thecommunication network. In an exemplary embodiment, the switchpackinformation comprises information representative of an operatingschedule for the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, the switchpackinformation includes information representative of an office planlocation assigned to the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, theswitchpack further includes a current monitor operably coupled to thecontroller for monitoring an operational state of one or more of theloads. In an exemplary embodiment, the switchpack further includes auser interface operably coupled to the controller for monitoring andcontrolling an operational state of the switchpack.

A switchpack for controlling an operational state of one or more loadshas been described that includes a communication interface fortransmitting and receiving communication signals to and from acommunication network, a controller operably coupled to thecommunication interface and adapted to be operably coupled to one ormore loads, a memory operably coupled to the controller including: anetwork address assigned to the switchpack, and information assigned tothe switchpack, a current monitor operably coupled to the controller formonitoring an operational state of one or more of the loads, and a userinterface operably coupled to the controller for permitting a local userof the switchpack to monitor and control an operational state of theswitchpack, wherein the controller is adapted to: control an operationalstate of one or more of the loads, communicate with the communicationnetwork using the communication interface, permit remote control of theswitchpack using the communication network during a first time period,and permit local control of the switchpack during a second time period,and permit remote control of the information assigned to the switchpackusing the communication network, wherein the switchpack informationincludes information representative of an operating schedule for theswitchpack, and wherein the switchpack information includes informationrepresentative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

A method of operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loadshas been described that includes: controlling an operational state ofone or more of the loads, and communicating with the switchpack using anetwork. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes:assigning a network address to the switchpack. In an exemplaryembodiment, the method further includes: remotely controlling one ormore operational aspects of the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment,the method further includes: remotely controlling one or moreoperational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period, andlocally controlling the one or more operational aspects of theswitchpack during a second time period. In an exemplary embodiment, themethod further includes: remotely controlling switchpack information. Inan exemplary embodiment, the switchpack information includes informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the switchpack. In anexemplary embodiment, the switchpack information includes informationrepresentative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack. Inan exemplary embodiment, the method further includes: monitoring acurrent level within one or more of the loads.

A method of operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loadshas been described that includes: controlling an operational state ofone or more of the loads, communicating with the switchpack using anetwork, assigning a network address to the switchpack, assigninginformation to the switchpack, remotely controlling one or moreoperational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period,locally controlling the one or more operational aspects of theswitchpack during a second time period, remotely controlling theswitchpack information, and monitoring a current level within one ormore of the loads, wherein the switchpack information includesinformation representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack,and wherein the switchpack information comprises informationrepresentative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

A system for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or moreloads has been described that includes: means for controlling anoperational state of one or more of the loads, and means forcommunicating with the switchpack using a network. In an exemplaryembodiment, the system further includes means for assigning a networkaddress to the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, the systemfurther includes: means for remotely controlling one or more operationalaspects of the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, the systemfurther includes: means for remotely controlling one or more operationalaspects of the switchpack during a first time period, and means forlocally controlling the one or more operational aspects of theswitchpack during a second time period. In an exemplary embodiment, thesystem further includes: means for remotely controlling switchpackinformation. In an exemplary embodiment, the switchpack informationincludes information representative of an operating schedule for theswitchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, the switchpack informationincludes information representative of an office plan location assignedto the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, the system furtherincludes means for monitoring a current level within one or more of theloads.

A system for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or moreloads has been described that includes: means for controlling anoperational state of one or more of the loads, means for communicatingwith the switchpack using a network, means for assigning a networkaddress to the switchpack, means for assigning information to theswitchpack, means for remotely controlling one or more operationalaspects of the switchpack during a first time period, means for locallycontrolling the one or more operational aspects of the switchpack duringa second time period, means for remotely controlling the switchpackinformation, and means for monitoring a current level within one or moreof the loads, wherein the switchpack information comprises informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the switchpack, and whereinthe switchpack information comprises information representative of anoffice plan location assigned to the switchpack.

A computer program for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one ormore loads has been described that includes program instructions for:controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads, andcommunicating with the switchpack using a network. In an exemplaryembodiment, the computer program further includes program instructionsfor: assigning a network address to the switchpack. In an exemplaryembodiment, the computer program further includes program instructionsfor: remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of theswitchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, the computer program furtherincludes program instructions for: remotely controlling one or moreoperational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period, andlocally controlling the one or more operational aspects of theswitchpack during a second time period. In an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer program further includes program instructions for: remotelycontrolling switchpack information. In an exemplary embodiment, theswitchpack information includes information representative of anoperating schedule for the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment, theswitchpack information includes information representative of an officeplan location assigned to the switchpack. In an exemplary embodiment,the computer program further includes program instructions formonitoring a current level within one or more of the loads.

A computer program for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one ormore loads has been described that includes program instructions for:controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads,communicating with the switchpack using a network, assigning a networkaddress to the switchpack, assigning information to the switchpack,remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the switchpackduring a first time period, locally controlling the one or moreoperational aspects of the switchpack during a second time period,remotely controlling the switchpack information, and monitoring acurrent level within one or more of the loads, wherein the switchpackinformation includes information representative of an operating schedulefor the switchpack, and wherein the switchpack information comprisesinformation representative of an office plan location assigned to theswitchpack.

A control system has been described that includes: one or moreswitchpack controllers operably coupled to one or more loads, acommunication network operably coupled to the switchpack controllers,one or more remote controllers operably coupled to the communicationnetwork, wherein one or more of the remote controllers are adapted topermit remote control and monitoring of one or more of the switchpackcontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the switchpackcontrollers include network addresses. In an exemplary embodiment, oneor more of the remote controllers are adapted to display informationcorresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers.In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the remote controllers areadapted to control one or more operational parameters of one or more ofthe addressable switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, oneor more of the remote controllers are adapted to control one or moreoperational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpackcontrollers during a first time period, and the one or more operationalparameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers arecontrolled by the corresponding switchpack controller during a secondtime period. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the switchpackcontrollers include a memory comprising one or more operationalparameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers. In an exemplaryembodiment, one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to updateone or more of the operational parameters of the correspondingswitchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, the operationalparameters include information representative of an operating schedulefor the corresponding switchpack controllers. In an exemplaryembodiment, one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to displayfloor plan information corresponding to one or more of the addressableswitchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of theswitchpack controllers are adapted to monitor a current level within oneor more of the loads.

A control system has been described that includes: one or moreswitchpack controllers including: corresponding network addresses, and amemory comprising one or more operational parameters of thecorresponding switchpack controller, and a communication networkoperably coupled to the switchpack controllers, one or more remotecontrollers operably coupled to the communication network, wherein oneor more of the remote controllers are adapted to: permit remote controland monitoring of one or more of the switchpack controllers, displayinformation corresponding to the operational parameters for one or moreof the addressable switchpack controllers, control one or moreoperational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpackcontrollers during a first time period and permit local control of theone or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second timeperiod, and update one or more of the operational parameters of thecorresponding switchpack controllers, and monitor a current level withinone or more of the loads, wherein the operational parameters includeinformation representative of an operating schedule and floor planinformation for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

A method of operating a control system comprising one or more switchpackcontrollers has been described that includes: providing one or moreremote controllers, and controlling and monitoring one or moreoperational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers usingone or more of the remote controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, themethod further includes: assigning network addresses to one or more ofthe switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, the methodfurther includes: remotely displaying information corresponding to oneor more of the addressable switchpack controllers. In an exemplaryembodiment, the method further includes: remotely controlling one ormore operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpackcontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes:remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or moreof the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period,and locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of theone or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second timeperiod. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes: storingone or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers withinthe corresponding switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment,the method further includes: remotely updating one or more of theoperational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers. Inan exemplary embodiment, the operational parameters include informationrepresentative of an operating schedule for the corresponding switchpackcontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes:remotely displaying floor plan information corresponding to one or moreof the addressable switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment,the method further includes: monitor a current level within one or moreof the loads using one or more of the remote controllers.

A method of operating a control system comprising one or more switchpackcontrollers has been described that includes: providing one or moreremote controllers, controlling and monitoring one or more operationalaspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or moreof the remote controllers, assigning network addresses to one or more ofthe switchpack controllers, remotely displaying informationcorresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers,remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or moreof the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period,locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one ormore addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period,storing one or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllerswithin the corresponding switchpack controllers, remotely updating oneor more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpackcontrollers, and remotely monitoring a current level within one or moreof the loads using one or more of the remote controllers, wherein theoperational parameters include information representative of anoperating schedule and floor plan information for the correspondingswitchpack controllers.

A system for operating a control system comprising one or moreswitchpack controllers has been described that includes: means forproviding one or more remote controllers, and means for remotelycontrolling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one ormore of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remotecontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes:means for assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpackcontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes:means for remotely displaying information corresponding to one or moreof the addressable switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment,the system further includes: means for remotely controlling one or moreoperational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpackcontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes:means for remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of oneor more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first timeperiod, and means for locally controlling the one or more operationalparameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers duringa second time period. In an exemplary embodiment, the system furtherincludes: means for storing one or more operational parameters of theswitchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers.In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes: means forremotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of thecorresponding switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, theoperational parameters include information representative of anoperating schedule for the corresponding switchpack controllers. In anexemplary embodiment, the system further includes: means for remotelydisplaying floor plan information corresponding to one or more of theaddressable switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, thesystem further includes: means for monitoring a current level within oneor more of the loads using one or more of the remote controllers.

A system for operating a control system comprising one or moreswitchpack controllers has been described that includes: means forproviding one or more remote controllers, means for controlling andmonitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of theswitchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers,means for assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpackcontrollers, means for remotely displaying information corresponding toone or more of the addressable switchpack controllers, means forremotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or moreof the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period,means for locally controlling the one or more operational parameters ofthe one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second timeperiod, means for storing one or more operational parameters of theswitchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers,means for remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters ofthe corresponding switchpack controllers, and means for monitoring acurrent level within one or more of the loads using one or more of theremote controllers, wherein the operational parameters includeinformation representative of an operating schedule and floor planinformation for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

A computer program for operating a control system including one or moreswitchpack controllers has been described that includes programinstructions for: remotely controlling and monitoring one or moreoperational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers. In anexemplary embodiment, the computer program further includes programinstructions for: assigning network addresses to one or more of theswitchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, the computer programfurther includes program instructions for: remotely displayinginformation corresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpackcontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, the computer program furtherincludes program instructions for: remotely controlling one or moreoperational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpackcontrollers. In an exemplary embodiment, the computer program furtherincludes program instructions for: remotely controlling one or moreoperational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpackcontrollers during a first time period, and locally controlling the oneor more operational parameters of the one or more addressable switchpackcontrollers during a second time period. In an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer program further includes program instructions for: storing oneor more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers within thecorresponding switchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer program further includes program instructions for: remotelyupdating one or more of the operational parameters of the correspondingswitchpack controllers. In an exemplary embodiment, the operationalparameters include information representative of an operating schedulefor the corresponding switchpack controllers. In an exemplaryembodiment, the computer program further includes program instructionsfor: remotely displaying floor plan information corresponding to one ormore of the addressable switchpack controllers. In an exemplaryembodiment, the computer program further includes program instructionsfor: monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads usingone or more of the remote controllers.

A computer program for operating a control system comprising one or moreswitchpack controllers has been described that includes programinstructions for: providing one or more remote controllers, controllingand monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of theswitchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers,assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpackcontrollers, remotely displaying information corresponding to one ormore of the addressable switchpack controllers, remotely controlling oneor more operational parameters of one or more of the addressableswitchpack controllers during a first time period, locally controllingthe one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressableswitchpack controllers during a second time period, storing one or moreoperational parameters of the switchpack controllers within thecorresponding switchpack controllers, remotely updating one or more ofthe operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers,and monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads using oneor more of the remote controllers, wherein the operational parametersinclude information representative of an operating schedule and floorplan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. For example, one or moreaspects of the present exemplary embodiments may be implemented usinghardware, software, firmware, analog, digital, radio frequency, opticalor other equivalent or interchangeable technologies.

Any foregoing spatial references such as, for example, “upper,” “lower,”“above,” “below,” “rear,” “between,” “vertical,” “angular,” etc., arefor the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the specificorientation or location of the structure described above.

In several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that one or more ofthe operational steps in each embodiment may be omitted. Moreover, insome instances, some features of the present disclosure may be employedwithout a corresponding use of the other features. Moreover, it isunderstood that one or more of the above-described embodiments and/orvariations may be combined in whole or in part with any one or more ofthe other above-described embodiments and/or variations.

Although exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been described indetail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manyother modifications, changes and/or substitutions are possible in theexemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of this disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications, changes and/or substitutions are intended to be includedwithin the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover thestructures described herein as performing the recited function and notonly structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

1. An occupancy sensor, comprising: an acoustic transmitter; an acousticreceiver; a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the acousticreceiver; and a controller operably coupled to the acoustic transmitter,the acoustic receiver, and the variable bandpass filter; wherein thecontroller is adapted to: transmit acoustic signals using the acoustictransmitter, receive acoustic signals using the acoustic receiver,filter the acoustic signals using the variable bandpass filter, andprocess the filtered acoustic signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region.
 2. An occupancy sensor,comprising: an acoustic transmitter; an acoustic receiver comprising: anacoustic sensor; a pre-amplifier operably coupled to the acoustic sensorcomprising a digital potentiometer, wherein the digital potentiometer isadapted to control the gain of the pre-amplifier to prevent clipping ofsignals received by the acoustic receiver; and an analog to digitalconverter operably coupled to the pre-amplifier; a demodulator operablycoupled to the acoustic receiver; a variable bandpass filter operablycoupled to the demodulator comprising: a digital potentiometer adaptedto control a gain of the bandpass filter; a digital potentiometeradapted to control a tuning of the bandpass filter; and a digitalpotentiometer adapted to control a ratio of a center frequency of thebandpass filter to a bandwidth of the bandpass filter; and a controlleroperably coupled to the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic receiver, thedemodulator, and the variable bandpass filter comprising: apre-amplifier engine adapted to control the acoustic receiver; abandpass filter engine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter;a doppler shift engine adapted to characterize the signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter; and an occupancy sensing engine adapted tocharacterizations of the Doppler shift engine to determine the presenceof absence of the occupant within the defined region; wherein thecontroller is adapted to: transmit acoustic signals using the acoustictransmitter, receive acoustic signals using the acoustic receiver,process the received acoustic signals using the demodulator, filter theprocessed acoustic signals using the variable bandpass filter, andprocess the filtered acoustic signals to determine the presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region.
 3. The occupancy sensorof claim 2, wherein the bandpass filter engine comprises: a quietbandwidth search engine for searching a range of frequencies for quietbandwidth areas that do not include background noise; and wherein thedoppler shift engine is adapted to characterize the signals filtered bythe variable bandpass filter within the quiet bandwidth areas.
 4. Theoccupancy sensor of claim 2, wherein the bandpass filter enginecomprises: a noisy bandwidth search engine for searching a range offrequencies for noisy bandwidth areas that include background noise; andwherein the doppler shift engine is adapted to characterize the signalsfiltered by the variable bandpass filter that are not within the noisybandwidth areas.
 5. The occupancy sensor of claim 2, wherein theoccupancy sensing engine comprises: a determination of possible noiseengine for processing signals filtered by the variable bandpass filterto determine if they indicate a possible source of noise; adetermination of possible occupancy engine for processing the signalsfiltered by the variable bandpass filter to determine if they indicatethe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region; and astatistical processing engine for processing the indications of possiblenoise and occupants to determine if the defined region is occupied by anoccupant, wherein the statistical processing engine determines that thedefined region is occupied by an occupant based upon the frequency ofthe indications of occupants within the defined region.
 6. The occupancysensor of claim 2, wherein the occupancy sensing engine comprises: adetermination of noise engine for processing a subset of signalsfiltered by the variable bandpass filter to determine if they indicate asource of noise; and a determination of occupancy engine for processingthe subset of the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter todetermine the presence or absence of an occupant within the definedregion.
 7. The occupancy sensor of claim 2, wherein the occupancysensing engine comprises: a determination of noise engine for processingthe signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within apredetermined time period to determine if they indicate a source ofnoise; and a determination of occupancy engine for processing thesignals filtered by the variable bandpass filter within a predeterminedtime period to determine the presence or absence of an occupant withinthe defined region.
 8. A method of operating an occupancy sensor,comprising: transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region;receiving acoustic signals from the defined region; filtering thereceived acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter; andprocessing the filtered acoustic signals to determine a presence orabsence of an occupant within a defined region.
 9. A method of operatingan occupancy sensor, comprising: transmitting acoustic signals into adefined region; receiving acoustic signals from the defined region;converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals; amplifying theelectrical signals without clipping the electrical signals; filteringthe received acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter;controlling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter; sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along arange of frequencies; then sweeping the variable bandpass filterdownwardly along a range of frequencies; time averaging an amplitude ofthe filtered acoustic signals; comparing the time averaged amplitudes ofthe filtered acoustic signals; determining if a filtered acoustic signalindicates a source of noise within the defined region; and determiningif a filtered acoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant withinthe defined region.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies thatdo not include background noise; and time averaging an amplitude of thefiltered acoustic signals within the quiet bandwidth areas.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising: searching for noisy bandwidthareas within a range of frequencies that include background noise; andtime averaging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals not withinthe noisy bandwidth areas.
 12. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: determining a possible presence of a source of noise withinthe defined region; determining a possible presence of an occupantwithin the defined region; and determining the presence of an occupantwithin the defined region as a function of a frequency of thedetermination of the possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising: determining apossible presence of a source of noise within the defined region;determining a possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion; and determining the presence of an occupant within the definedregion as a function of a frequency of the determination of the possiblepresence of an occupant within the defined region relative to afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of a source ofnoise within the defined region.
 14. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: time averaging an amplitude of a subset the filteredacoustic signals.
 15. The method of claim 9, further comprising: timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals for a finitetime period.
 16. A system for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising:means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region; means forreceiving acoustic signals from the defined region; means for filteringthe received acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter; andmeans for processing the filtered acoustic signals to determine apresence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.
 17. A systemfor operating an occupancy sensor, comprising: means for transmittingacoustic signals into a defined region; means for receiving acousticsignals from the defined region; means for converting the acousticsignals into electrical signals; means for amplifying the electricalsignals without clipping the electrical signals; means for filtering thereceived acoustic signals using a variable bandpass filter; means forcontrolling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variablebandpass filter; means for sweeping the variable bandpass filterupwardly along a range of frequencies; means for then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies; meansfor time averaging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals; meansfor comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered acousticsignals; means for determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicates asource of noise within the defined region; and means for determining ifa filtered acoustic signal indicates a presence of an occupant withinthe defined region.
 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:means for searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a range offrequencies that do not include background noise; and means for timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals within the quietbandwidth areas.
 19. The system of claim 17, further comprising: meansfor searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a range of frequenciesthat include background noise; and means for time averaging an amplitudeof the filtered acoustic signals not within the noisy bandwidth areas.20. The system of claim 17, further comprising: means for determining apossible presence of a source of noise within the defined region; meansfor determining a possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion; and means for determining the presence of an occupant within thedefined region as a function of a frequency of the determination of thepossible presence of an occupant within the defined region.
 21. Thesystem of claim 17, further comprising: means for determining a possiblepresence of a source of noise within the defined region; means fordetermining a possible presence of an occupant within the definedregion; and means for determining the presence of an occupant within thedefined region as a function of a frequency of the determination of thepossible presence of an occupant within the defined region relative to afrequency of the determination of the possible presence of a source ofnoise within the defined region.
 22. The system of claim 17, furthercomprising: means for time averaging an amplitude of a subset thefiltered acoustic signals.
 23. The system of claim 17, furthercomprising: means for time averaging an amplitude of the filteredacoustic signals for a finite time period.
 24. A computer program foroperating an occupancy sensor, comprising program instructions for:transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region; receiving acousticsignals from the defined region; filtering the received acoustic signalsusing a variable bandpass filter; and processing the filtered acousticsignals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within adefined region.
 25. A computer program for operating an occupancysensor, comprising program instructions for: transmitting acousticsignals into a defined region; receiving acoustic signals from thedefined region; converting the acoustic signals into electrical signals;amplifying the electrical signals without clipping the electricalsignals; filtering the received acoustic signals using a variablebandpass filter; controlling a ratio of a center frequency to abandwidth of the variable bandpass filter; sweeping the variablebandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies; then sweeping thevariable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies; timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals; comparing thetime averaged amplitudes of the filtered acoustic signals; determiningif a filtered acoustic signal indicates a source of noise within thedefined region; and determining if a filtered acoustic signal indicatesa presence of an occupant within the defined region.
 26. The computerprogram of claim 25, further comprising program instructions for:searching for quiet bandwidth areas within a range of frequencies thatdo not include background noise; and time averaging an amplitude of thefiltered acoustic signals within the quiet bandwidth areas.
 27. Thecomputer program of claim 25, further comprising program instructionsfor: searching for noisy bandwidth areas within a range of frequenciesthat include background noise; and time averaging an amplitude of thefiltered acoustic signals not within the noisy bandwidth areas.
 28. Thecomputer program of claim 25, further comprising program instructionsfor: determining a possible presence of a source of noise within thedefined region; determining a possible presence of an occupant withinthe defined region; and determining the presence of an occupant withinthe defined region as a function of a frequency of the determination ofthe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region.
 29. Thecomputer program of claim 25, further comprising program instructionsfor: determining a possible presence of a source of noise within thedefined region; determining a possible presence of an occupant withinthe defined region; and determining the presence of an occupant withinthe defined region as a function of a frequency of the determination ofthe possible presence of an occupant within the defined region relativeto a frequency of the determination of the possible presence of a sourceof noise within the defined region.
 30. The computer program of claim25, further comprising program instructions for: time averaging anamplitude of a subset the filtered acoustic signals.
 31. The computerprogram of claim 25, further comprising program instructions for: timeaveraging an amplitude of the filtered acoustic signals for a finitetime period.